Compare towns
Castleton vs Proctor vs Swanton 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Proctor has the most people working from home (9.4%).
Swanton has the highest household income ($81k).
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.
| Measure | Castleton | Proctor | Swanton | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,794 |
6,820Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$81,371±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Swanton 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 29% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$285,100±$35kHighest 10% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Swanton and Ira 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 |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,257±$133Highest about the VT average |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Swanton and Castleton 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 |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,449Highest 12% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Proctor and Swanton 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 | — | #27 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — |
| 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 |
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.