Compare towns
Castleton vs Eliot vs Wells 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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Eliot has the highest household income ($102k).
Wells has the most people working from home (17.8%).
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 | Eliot | Wells | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
7,146 |
11,713Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Ira and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Wells 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. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Wells 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. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Wells 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 |
$4,549Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,215 3% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Eliot 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Wells High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.