Compare towns
Castleton vs Exeter vs Cavendish 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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Exeter | Cavendish | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
16,151Highest |
1,242 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Cavendish 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Cavendish 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. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,948 27% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Exeter 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Cavendish 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 18 photos → | 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.