Compare towns

Castleton vs Lyme 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).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).

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.

MeasureCastletonLymeIra
People
Population
4,453Highest
1,710
381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
48.6±7.8
25% above U.S.
54.1±5.5Highest
39% above U.S.
Ira and Lyme 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%
19.5%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
10.5%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Lyme and Castleton 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%
26.5%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
28.9%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ira and Lyme 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%
70.1%Highest
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%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$133,906±$15kHighest
66% above U.S.
$71,827±$5kLowest
11% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$645,000±$64kHighest
94% above U.S.
$272,900±$18k
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$1,418±$130Highest
about the U.S. average
$942±$52Lowest
33% below U.S.
Lyme 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,146
33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±29.8
U.S.: 51.1%
36.4%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Lyme 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%
4.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
27.2%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #39 of 70 in VT — —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Lyme School District —
High school in town None 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.