Compare towns
Castleton vs Essex Junction 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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Essex Junction has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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 | Essex Junction | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
10,803Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+14.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
39.3±3.1 9% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Essex Junction 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% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
52.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$89,257±$16kHighest 10% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Essex Junction 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±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$407,500±$20kHighest 29% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,544±$135Highest 25% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,797Highest 35% above VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Essex Junction 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% |
9.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | #14 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.