Compare towns
Castleton vs Belvidere vs Windham vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Belvidere has the most kids (22% under 18).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Castleton | Belvidere | Windham | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
422 |
594 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
40.7±6.5 6% below VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
22%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Belvidere and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$81,563±$18k about the VT average |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Windham and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$239,200±$51k 24% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
— | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Belvidere and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.