Compare towns

Castleton vs Newfields vs Putney 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 affordable homes ($225k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% 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.

MeasureCastletonNewfieldsPutneyIra
People
Population
4,453Highest
2,023
2,622
381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
38.3±4.3
about the U.S. average
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
54.1±5.5Highest
39% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
10.5%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Newfields and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
28.9%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
$71,827±$5kLowest
11% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
$272,900±$18k
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$942±$52
33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$4,146
33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
36.4%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Putney 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%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs 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 min
27% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields and Putney 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 — #32 of 70 in VT —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Newfields School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 —
High school in town None in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 6 photos → 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.