Compare towns
Castleton vs Elmore vs Epping 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).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
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 | Elmore | Epping | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
964 |
7,430Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45±3.5 16% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Ira and Epping 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% |
23.4%±9.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Elmore 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% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Epping 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% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$98,750±$24k 22% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Epping and Elmore 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. |
$315,800±$47k 5% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,225±$263 13% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Epping and Elmore 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 |
$5,066 62% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±65.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Castleton 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs 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. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | Epping School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
— |
| 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.