Compare towns
Castleton vs North Hero vs Mendon 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).
North Hero has the most expensive homes ($451k median).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | North Hero | Mendon | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,263 |
1,113 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
54.2±6.7Highest 26% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
| North Hero 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% |
16.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and North Hero 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% |
27.3%±4 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon 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% VT: 43.8% |
47.4% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.5%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$102,143±$24kHighest 26% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| North Hero and Mendon 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 |
$451,400±$66kHighest 43% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| North Hero 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 |
$1,556±$360Highest 26% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| North Hero and Mendon 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 |
$5,132 about the VT average |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±98.1 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest 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% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
15.4%±8.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and North Hero 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 | Champlain Islands Unified Union School District #66 | — | — |
| High school in town | None 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.