Compare towns
Castleton vs Putney vs Barre 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 most kids (18.8% under 18).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% 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.
| Measure | Castleton | Putney | Barre | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
2,622 |
8,412Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Barre 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Putney 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±$71k 29% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Putney and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
| Castleton and Barre 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Barre 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.