Compare towns

Castleton vs Heath 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 most kids (18.8% under 18).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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.

MeasureCastletonHeathIra
People
Population
4,453Highest
765
381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
53.8±11.9
38% above U.S.
54.1±5.5Highest
39% above U.S.
Ira and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.1%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
10.5%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.6%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.9%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Heath 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.8%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%
3.3%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$98,750±$23kHighest
22% above U.S.
$71,827±$5kLowest
11% below U.S.
Heath 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
32% below U.S.
$295,000±$45kHighest
11% below U.S.
$272,900±$18k
18% below U.S.
Heath 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
20% below U.S.
—
$942±$52Lowest
33% below U.S.
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
about the U.S. average
$4,438Highest
42% above U.S.
$4,146
33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
36.4%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Heath 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%
6.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
35 minHighest
32% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
31.7%±17.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #39 of 70 in VT — —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 — —
High school in town None in town — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.