Compare towns

Castleton vs Lincoln 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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Lincoln has the highest household income ($96k).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).

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.

MeasureCastletonLincolnIra
People
Population
4,453Highest
1,749
381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-10.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
53.6±2.3
38% above U.S.
54.1±5.5Highest
39% above U.S.
Ira and Lincoln 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%
15.3%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
10.5%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Lincoln 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%
29.4%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.9%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Lincoln 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$96,100±$12kHighest
19% above U.S.
$71,827±$5kLowest
11% below U.S.
Lincoln 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.
$202,100±$25kLowest
39% below U.S.
$272,900±$18kHighest
18% 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±$195
20% below U.S.
$1,196±$309Highest
15% below U.S.
$942±$52Lowest
33% below U.S.
Lincoln 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
$3,800
22% above U.S.
$4,146Highest
33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.2%±65
U.S.: 51.1%
36.4%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Lincoln 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%
6.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.8%Highest
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.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
7.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lincoln 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.