Compare towns
Castleton vs Ira vs Marion
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).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
Marion has the most affordable homes ($180k median).
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 | Marion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
381Lowest |
4,523Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
47.9±4.2 23% above U.S. |
| Ira and Marion 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Marion 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% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$80,469±$12kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Marion 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±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$180,300±$27kLowest 46% below U.S. |
| 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 20% below U.S. |
$942±$52 33% below U.S. |
$639±$394Lowest 55% 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 |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
$4,580Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Marion 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% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Castleton and Marion 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 | — | #194 of 484 in NY |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | MARION CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | — | MARION JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.6 |
| 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.