Compare towns
Ira vs Hampton vs Castleton vs Clarendon
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).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Clarendon has the shortest commute (16 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 | Hampton | Castleton | Clarendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
1,145 |
4,453Highest |
2,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.3±4.1 34% above U.S. |
| Ira and Clarendon 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% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Clarendon 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% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Clarendon 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% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$59,609±$12kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Hampton 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. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$220,900±$32k 34% below U.S. |
| Ira and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,096±$305 22% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Castleton 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. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,740 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±27.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
16 minLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Clarendon and Hampton 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 | — | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | Mill River Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.4 |
| 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.