Compare towns

Castleton vs Ira vs Rupert vs Windham

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).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).

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.

MeasureCastletonIraRupertWindham
People
Population
4,453Highest
381Lowest
676
594
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
-2.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
11% below VT
54.1±5.5
26% above VT
57.8±9.7Highest
34% above VT
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
Rupert 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
VT: 17.9%
10.5%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
13.9%±3.7
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
Castleton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.9%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
42.3%±8.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%
VT: 43.8%
37.1%
VT: 43.8%
30.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
VT: 7%
3.4%±3.5
VT: 7%
2.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below VT
$71,827±$5kLowest
12% below VT
$88,229±$36k
9% above VT
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
Windham and Rupert 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
$362,500±$63kHighest
14% above VT
$353,900±$20k
12% above VT
Rupert and Windham 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
— —
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
37% below VT
$4,146
18% below VT
$4,594
9% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
36.4%±100
VT: 48.4%
20%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
Castleton and Windham 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%
6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.7%
VT: 73.2%
93.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
17% below VT
28 minHighest
20% above VT
27 min
14% above VT
27 min
14% above VT
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
VT: 16.9%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
18.6%±9.2
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Windham and Rupert 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 — — —
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 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.