Compare towns
Castleton vs Ira vs Johnson
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).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Johnson has the most people working from home (8.8%).
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 | Ira | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
381Lowest |
3,450 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Castleton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
| Ira and Castleton 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 |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$948±$45 23% below VT |
| Castleton and Johnson 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 |
$4,146Highest 18% below VT |
$3,310 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Johnson 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Johnson 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 | — | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.