Compare towns
Castleton vs Franklin vs Montgomery 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).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Montgomery has the most expensive homes ($323k median).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Franklin | Montgomery | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,590 |
1,047 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Montgomery 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% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin 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% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Franklin 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 |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Montgomery and Ira 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 |
$891±$266 28% below VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% 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 |
$3,384 33% below VT |
$4,326Highest 14% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Castleton 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% 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 |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Montgomery 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 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.