Compare towns
Castleton vs Walden vs Strafford 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).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Walden | Strafford | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,037 |
1,372 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Strafford 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% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Castleton 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% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Strafford and Walden 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 |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
| Castleton and Strafford 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 |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Walden 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Strafford 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Strafford 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.