Compare towns
Ira vs Fair Haven vs Sandgate 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).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Fair Haven | Sandgate | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
2,724 |
435 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Sandgate and Ira 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% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Sandgate 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% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$69,167±$19k 15% 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 |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$193,800±$31k 39% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| Ira and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52 24% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
— | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
| Castleton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146Highest 18% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1959 17 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.