Compare towns
Castleton vs Springfield vs Bennington 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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k 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 | Springfield | Bennington | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
9,084 |
15,249Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Castleton and Ira 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Ira and Castleton 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 |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Castleton and Bennington 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 |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Castleton 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | #64 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— |
| 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.