Compare towns
Castleton vs Cornwall vs Ira vs Plainfield
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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Cornwall has the highest household income ($115k).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Cornwall | Ira | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,208 |
381Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Ira and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Cornwall 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Cornwall 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 29% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield 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 |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Castleton 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% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Plainfield 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.