Compare towns
Castleton vs Ira vs Peacham vs Putney
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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Peacham has the most people working from home (24.2%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Peacham | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
381Lowest |
887 |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Ira and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Peacham 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%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Peacham and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$302,000±$64kHighest 5% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Peacham and Putney 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±$52 24% below VT |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Castleton and Peacham 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 |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$5,605Highest 11% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Peacham 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% VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.1% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Peacham School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.