Compare towns
Castleton vs Guildhall vs Ripton 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).
Guildhall has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
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 | Guildhall | Ripton | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
371Lowest |
508 |
381 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.6±7.8 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Ripton 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% |
22.6%±7.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Guildhall and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±5.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
33.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Guildhall and Ripton 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 |
$321,200±$62k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Ripton and Guildhall 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 |
$850±$717Lowest 31% 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 |
$4,625 8% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
75%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Guildhall 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% |
11.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Castleton 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school 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.