Compare towns
Castleton vs Dover vs Worcester 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 most kids (18.8% under 18).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($333k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Dover | Worcester | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,466 |
831 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Dover 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Worcester 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Ira 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% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Castleton and Worcester 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 |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Dover and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
| Castleton and Worcester 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 |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Dover 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Dover 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.