Compare towns
Castleton vs Halifax vs Tunbridge 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).
Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Tunbridge has the highest household income ($89k).
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 | Halifax | Tunbridge | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
847 |
1,253 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Tunbridge 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Tunbridge 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% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Halifax 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% |
44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$89,464±$26kHighest 10% above VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Tunbridge 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 |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$315,300±$23kHighest about the VT average |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
| Tunbridge and Castleton 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 |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
$4,645 8% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge 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% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
84.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Tunbridge 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 | Halifax School District | First Branch Unified School District #82 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.