Compare towns
Ira vs Chester vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Chester | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 381Lowest |
2,992 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Ira and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% 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 | $272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Ira and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
| Castleton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146 18% below VT |
$4,262Highest 15% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Chester and Castleton 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.