Compare towns

Castleton vs Brunswick vs Ira

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Brunswick has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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.

MeasureCastletonBrunswickIra
People
Population
4,453
22,336Highest
381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
40±2.8
about the U.S. average
54.1±5.5Highest
39% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
10.5%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
28.9%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.3%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$74,952±$6kHighest
7% below U.S.
$71,827±$5kLowest
11% below U.S.
Brunswick and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$376,300±$15kHighest
13% above U.S.
$272,900±$18k
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$1,469±$99Highest
4% above U.S.
$942±$52Lowest
33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$4,756Highest
52% above U.S.
$4,146
33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±8.8
U.S.: 51.1%
36.4%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
23 min
11% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #39 of 70 in VT #30 of 133 in ME —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 —
High school in town None in town Brunswick High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.9
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.