Compare towns
Castleton vs Mapleton vs Royalton 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).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Royalton has the most people working from home (17.8%).
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 | Royalton | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,884 |
2,752 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
43.9±10.1 13% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Ira and Royalton 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8 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%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Royalton 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% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$103,938±$24kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Royalton and Mapleton 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. |
$263,200±$73k 21% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Ira and Royalton 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±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,040±$391 26% below U.S. |
$942±$52 33% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Royalton 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. |
$4,675Highest 50% 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% |
36.7%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Royalton 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% |
13% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
20 min 23% 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% |
17.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Royalton 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 | — | #48 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | White River Unified School District #79 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | White River Valley High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.