Compare towns
Castleton vs Fairfield vs Ryegate 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).
Fairfield has the highest household income ($87k).
Ryegate has the most people working from home (8.2%).
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 | Fairfield | Ryegate | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,938 |
1,059 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Ryegate 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% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Fairfield 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 |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
| Castleton and Fairfield 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 |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$3,472 31% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ryegate 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ryegate and Fairfield 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.