Compare towns
Castleton vs Epping vs Plainfield 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).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Epping | Plainfield | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
7,430Highest |
1,314 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Ira and Plainfield 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Epping and Plainfield 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 |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Epping 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Plainfield 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Epping School District | — | — |
| High school 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.