Compare towns
Ira vs Middlesex vs Sutton 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 oldest population (median age 54.1).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
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 | Middlesex | Sutton | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
1,943 |
2,239 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Ira and Sutton 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Sutton 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%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Sutton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Sutton 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. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Ira 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Sutton 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Kearsarge Regional School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.