Compare towns
Ira vs Epping vs Castleton vs Poultney
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).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 34).
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 | Epping | Castleton | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
7,430Highest |
4,453 |
3,010 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
34±5.6Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Ira and Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Poultney 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% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$72,617±$6k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$206,200±$18kLowest 38% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52 33% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$913±$84Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Epping and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146 33% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,520 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Epping School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | — | Epping High School | None in town | Poultney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 10.5Highest |
| 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.