Compare towns
Ira vs Lancaster vs Castleton
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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (7%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
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 | Lancaster | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 381Lowest |
10,113Highest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.1±4.7 16% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Ira and Lancaster 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% |
17.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Lancaster 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% |
21%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$66,148±$7kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
| 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 18% below U.S. |
$202,200±$16kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% 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. |
$969±$169 31% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Lancaster 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. |
$4,932Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Lancaster 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% |
6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | — | — | #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 |
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.