Compare towns
Castleton vs Marlow vs Monroe 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 people working from home (6.2%).
Marlow has the highest household income ($110k).
Monroe has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Marlow | Monroe | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
855 |
786 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.8±11.7 36% above U.S. |
51±10.4 31% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Ira and Marlow 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% |
20.5%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Monroe and Marlow 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% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±8.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow and Monroe 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% |
33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$110,455±$12kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$88,150±$7k 9% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$325,400±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$312,700±$58k 6% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Marlow and Monroe 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. |
$1,154±$160Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Marlow and Castleton 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 |
$5,826Highest 87% above U.S. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Monroe 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 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. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Castleton and Monroe 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 | Marlow School District | Monroe School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.