Compare towns
Castleton vs Mendon vs Windsor 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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Windsor has the most renters (48.4% rent).
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 | Mendon | Windsor | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,113 |
2,060 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.5% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
44.6±12.3 3% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±8.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor 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 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±8Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$51,197±$4kLowest 37% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Mendon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$170,300±$22kLowest 46% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,002±$107 19% below VT |
$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 |
$4,878 3% 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% |
31.4%±20Lowest 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% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 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 |
22 min 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.6%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #61 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.