Compare towns
Castleton vs White River Junction vs Wilder 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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
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 | White River Junction | Wilder | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
3,364 |
3,087 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Wilder 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% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Wilder 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% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| White River Junction and Wilder 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 |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| White River Junction and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| White River Junction and Wilder 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 |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and White River Junction 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% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction and Wilder 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 | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| 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.