Compare towns
Ira vs Newfane vs Dummerston vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Newfane | Dummerston | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
1,456 |
2,090 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Newfane and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Castleton 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% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane and Ira 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% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 14% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Dummerston and Newfane 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 |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Dummerston and Newfane 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 |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Newfane 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% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Dummerston 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 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.