Compare towns
Ira vs Mount Tabor vs Ripton vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Mount Tabor | Ripton | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381 |
304Lowest |
508 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Mount Tabor and Ira 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% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
— | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$420,500±$76kHighest 33% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Mount Tabor and Ripton 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 |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
— | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146 18% below VT |
$5,233Highest 4% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ripton 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% |
11% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton 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 | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.