Compare towns
Castleton vs Jackson vs Underhill vs Ira
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 affordable homes ($225k median).
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k median).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
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 | Jackson | Underhill | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
897 |
3,141 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
38.1±11.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Underhill 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Jackson 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% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$92,267±$54k 14% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Underhill 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. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$446,000±$24k 34% above U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
— | $942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Jackson 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 |
$6,001 92% above U.S. |
$6,697Highest 115% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Ira 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson and Underhill 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 | — | #2 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jackson School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.