Compare towns

Castleton vs Ira vs Meredith

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).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).

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.

MeasureCastletonIraMeredith
People
Population
4,453
381Lowest
6,758Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+6.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
54.1±5.5
39% above U.S.
55.5±3.7Highest
43% above U.S.
Meredith and Ira 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%
12.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Meredith 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%
28.9%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Meredith 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%
37.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%Highest
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%
2.9%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$71,827±$5kLowest
11% below U.S.
$87,019±$19kHighest
8% above U.S.
Meredith 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.
$272,900±$18k
18% below U.S.
$480,100±$48kHighest
44% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$942±$52Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,149±$304Highest
19% below U.S.
Meredith and Castleton 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.
$5,006Highest
61% 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%
48.5%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Meredith 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%
7.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #39 of 70 in VT — #62 of 120 in NH
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 — Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District
High school in town None in town — Inter-Lakes High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.1
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.