Compare towns
Castleton vs Mapleton vs Putney 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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.
| Measure | Castleton | Mapleton | Putney | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,884 |
2,622 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Putney 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Putney and Ira 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. |
$610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$942±$52 33% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 about the U.S. average |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Putney 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% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest 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. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney and Mapleton 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.