Compare towns
Castleton vs Westminster vs Westminster 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%).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Westminster | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,999 |
497 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
43.3±11.5 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%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest 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% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest 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% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Westminster 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±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Westminster 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 |
$916±$126 26% 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 |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$4,480Highest 11% 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% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Westminster 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% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.1% 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 |
1938Lowest 38 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 |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.