Compare towns
Castleton vs Elmore vs Proctor 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Elmore has the highest household income ($99k).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Proctor | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
964 |
1,794 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Proctor 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% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
47.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Elmore and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$315,800±$47kHighest about the VT average |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Elmore and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Elmore and Castleton 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 |
$5,066Highest about the VT average |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Proctor 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% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.