Compare towns

Castleton vs Meredith 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 kids (18.8% under 18).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).

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.

MeasureCastletonMeredithIra
People
Population
4,453
6,758Highest
381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
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Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
55.5±3.7Highest
43% above U.S.
54.1±5.5
39% above U.S.
Meredith 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
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
10.5%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Meredith 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%
34.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.9%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Meredith and Ira 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%
45.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$87,019±$19kHighest
8% above U.S.
$71,827±$5kLowest
11% below U.S.
Meredith 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±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$480,100±$48kHighest
44% above U.S.
$272,900±$18k
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$1,149±$304Highest
19% below U.S.
$942±$52Lowest
33% below U.S.
Meredith and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$5,006Highest
61% above U.S.
$4,146
33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
36.4%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Meredith 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%
7.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #39 of 70 in VT #62 of 120 in NH —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District —
High school in town None in town Inter-Lakes High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.