Compare towns

Ira vs New Gloucester 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).
New Gloucester has the most people working from home (14.2%).
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.

MeasureIraNew GloucesterCastleton
People
Population
381Lowest
5,766Highest
4,453
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.1±5.5Highest
39% above U.S.
40.1±5.5
3% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
10.5%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24.2%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
New Gloucester 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
U.S.: 17.2%
15.4%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
30.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,827±$5kLowest
11% below U.S.
$108,797±$12kHighest
35% above U.S.
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
New Gloucester 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.
$357,100±$29kHighest
7% above U.S.
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$942±$52Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,150±$249Highest
19% below U.S.
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
New Gloucester and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,146Highest
33% above U.S.
$3,417
10% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.4%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
24.7%±12Lowest
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%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
Work from home
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
New Gloucester 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 — #65 of 133 in ME #39 of 70 in VT
School district — RSU 15/MSAD 15 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town — None 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.