Compare towns
Castleton vs Mendon vs Rupert vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Mendon | Rupert | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,113 |
676 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
| Rupert and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Mendon and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rupert and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
— | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Mendon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,594 9% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Rupert 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 | None yet |
VT 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.