Compare towns
Ira vs Appleton vs Castleton vs West Rutland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
West Rutland has the most people working from home (13.6%).
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 | Ira | Appleton | Castleton | West Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
1,360 |
4,453Highest |
2,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.8±5.1 23% above U.S. |
| Ira and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and West Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$61,161±$27k 24% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$196,400±$27kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Ira and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52 33% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$883±$151Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,498 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.1%±22.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
22 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Rutland and Appleton 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 | — | Appleton Public Schools | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.