Compare towns
Castleton vs Westminster vs Springfield 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 people working from home (27%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Springfield | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
2,999 |
9,084Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Westminster 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% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 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% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Westminster 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% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% 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 |
$273,800±$35kHighest 14% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Westminster and Ira 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 |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
| Castleton and Springfield 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 |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Springfield 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% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Springfield 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 | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Springfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— |
| 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.