Compare towns

Castleton vs Ira vs West Monroe

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).
West Monroe has the most people working from home (8.1%).

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.

MeasureCastletonIraWest Monroe
People
Population
4,453Highest
381Lowest
4,060
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-3.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
54.1±5.5Highest
39% above U.S.
46.3±4.6
19% above U.S.
Ira and West Monroe 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%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and West Monroe 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%
17.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
25.9%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%
2.1%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$71,827±$5kLowest
11% below U.S.
$90,558±$11kHighest
12% above U.S.
West Monroe 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.
$185,100±$19kLowest
44% 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±$52Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,051±$342
26% below U.S.
Castleton and West Monroe 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.
$4,333Highest
39% 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%
38.1%±13.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and West Monroe 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%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
26 min
3% below U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.1%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
West Monroe 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 — —
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

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.