Compare towns
Ira vs Jericho vs Peru 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 oldest population (median age 54.1).
Jericho has the most people working from home (21.8%).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Jericho | Peru | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
5,114Highest |
434 |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
49.7±5.1 15% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Ira and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Jericho 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% |
20.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$116,923±$16k 44% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Peru and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Jericho and Peru 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 |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Jericho and Peru 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 |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho 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 VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
1.8% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Jericho and Peru 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 | — | #6 of 70 in VT | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.