Compare towns

Ira vs Brunswick vs Castleton

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 oldest population (median age 54.1).
Brunswick has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).

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.

MeasureIraBrunswickCastleton
People
Population
381Lowest
22,336Highest
4,453
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+7.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.1±5.5Highest
39% above U.S.
40±2.8
about the U.S. average
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
10.5%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Brunswick 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%
22.9%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.3%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,827±$5kLowest
11% below U.S.
$74,952±$6kHighest
7% below U.S.
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
Brunswick and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,900±$18k
18% below U.S.
$376,300±$15kHighest
13% above U.S.
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$942±$52Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,469±$99Highest
4% above U.S.
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,146
33% above U.S.
$4,756Highest
52% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.4%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±8.8
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Brunswick 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%
7.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
23 min
11% below U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
Work from home
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #30 of 133 in ME #39 of 70 in VT
School district — Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town — Brunswick High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.9
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.