Compare towns
Castleton vs Reading vs Sharon 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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Reading | Sharon | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
699 |
1,577 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon 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 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Reading 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Reading and Sharon 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Reading and Sharon 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Sharon 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Sharon 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Sharon School District | — |
| High school in town | None 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.