Compare towns
Castleton vs Proctor vs Putnam 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).
Proctor has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
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 | Proctor | Putnam | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,794 |
540 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Ira and Putnam 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% |
21.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$74,167±$12k 8% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Ira and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
— | $942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Proctor 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 |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Proctor 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% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Proctor and Putnam 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.