Compare towns
Castleton vs Ripton vs Putney 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).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% 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 | Ripton | Putney | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
508 |
2,622 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton 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 |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Ripton and Putney 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 |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
| Castleton and Ira 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Putney 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 | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| 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.