Compare towns
Castleton vs Durham vs Ira vs Williston
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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Ira | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
15,080Highest |
381Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Ira and Williston 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Durham and Williston 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. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Durham and Williston 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. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.