Compare towns

Castleton vs Newfane vs Walpole 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).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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.

MeasureCastletonNewfaneWalpoleIra
People
Population
4,453Highest
1,456
3,690
381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
54.4±3.9Highest
40% above U.S.
46.5±10.4
20% above U.S.
54.1±5.5
39% above U.S.
Newfane and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
11.1%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
10.5%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Walpole 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
U.S.: 17.2%
29.2%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±5.4
U.S.: 17.2%
28.9%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Newfane 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%
46.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$66,719±$21kLowest
17% below U.S.
$82,617±$16kHighest
about the U.S. average
$71,827±$5k
11% below U.S.
Walpole 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.
$284,200±$49k
15% below U.S.
$319,800±$48kHighest
4% below U.S.
$272,900±$18k
18% below U.S.
Walpole and Newfane 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.
$1,266±$238Highest
10% below U.S.
$1,165±$150
18% below U.S.
$942±$52Lowest
33% below U.S.
Newfane and Walpole 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
$5,174
66% above U.S.
$6,078Highest
95% above U.S.
$4,146
33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.9%±79.7
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
36.4%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Newfane 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%
10.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
14.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
23 min
13% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
30.8%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.2%±4.9
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 — #27 of 120 in NH —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 West River Valley Union Education District #72A Fall Mountain Regional School District —
High school in town None in town None in town None in town —
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.