Compare towns
Castleton vs Westminster vs Ripton 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).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Westminster | Ripton | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
497 |
508 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above 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%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest 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% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton 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 |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Ripton and Westminster 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 |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Ripton and Westminster 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 |
$749±$315Lowest 39% 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 |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ripton 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Ripton 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| 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.