Compare towns
Castleton vs Dunbarton vs Putney 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).
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k median).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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 | Dunbarton | Putney | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
3,097 |
2,622 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Ira and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunbarton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,166±$70Highest 17% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$942±$52 33% below U.S. |
| Dunbarton 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 |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Dunbarton 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% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney and Dunbarton 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Dunbarton School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| 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 |
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.