Compare towns
Ira vs Jackson vs Castleton vs Mount Tabor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Mount Tabor has the most expensive homes ($421k 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.
| Measure | Ira | Jackson | Castleton | Mount Tabor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381 |
1,695 |
4,453Highest |
304Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
56.9±3.6 46% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
57.8±10.6Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Mount Tabor and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.4%±18.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Tabor and Jackson 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% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$77,375±$8kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
— |
| Jackson 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. |
$235,400±$40k 29% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$420,500±$76kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,139±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$2,143±$367Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146 33% above U.S. |
$4,165 34% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,233Highest 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jackson 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% |
7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
46 minHighest 72% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson and Mount Tabor 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| 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.