Compare towns
Castleton vs Enosburgh vs Hardwick 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).
Enosburgh has the most kids (21% under 18).
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
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 | Enosburgh | Hardwick | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,804 |
2,965 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
40.6±3.9 6% below VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Enosburgh 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 VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Hardwick and Castleton 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 |
$223,100±$39k 30% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Ira and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
| Castleton and Ira 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 |
$3,624 28% below VT |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Enosburgh 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% |
13.9% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Hardwick and Enosburgh 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 | #26 of 70 in VT | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | Hazen Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.