Compare towns
Castleton vs Sandgate vs Burke 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).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Burke has the most expensive homes ($341k 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 | Sandgate | Burke | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
435 |
1,317 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
41.1±4.8 5% below VT |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
| Sandgate and Ira 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% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
23%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Burke 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% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Sandgate 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% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.3 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$87,143±$17kHighest 7% above VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Burke 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 |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$340,600±$18kHighest 8% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— | $938±$191Lowest 24% 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 | $3,167 37% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$5,177Highest about the VT average |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Castleton 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% |
9.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.6% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1959Lowest 17 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 |
27 min 16% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Burke 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 | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — |
| High school 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.