Compare towns
Castleton vs Hanover vs Ira vs Putney
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 most kids (18.8% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Ira | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
11,685Highest |
381Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Putney 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% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$942±$52 33% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Hanover 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% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Putney 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.