Compare towns
Castleton vs Deerfield vs Lee 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Deerfield | Lee | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
4,932Highest |
4,576 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.8±4.2 10% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%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% |
3.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$131,563±$10k 63% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Lee and Deerfield 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. |
$421,000±$33k 27% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,593±$318Highest 13% above U.S. |
— | $942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Deerfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$7,369 136% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Lee 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Deerfield 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Deerfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.