Compare towns
Castleton vs Hampstead vs Newfields 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Hampstead | Newfields | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
9,102Highest |
2,023 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Ira and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Hampstead 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% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Hampstead 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Hampstead School District | Newfields School District | — |
| 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 |
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.