Compare towns
Ira vs Putnam vs Castleton vs Clarendon
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).
Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Clarendon has the shortest commute (16 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 | Putnam | Castleton | Clarendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
540 |
4,453Highest |
2,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.3±4.1 34% above U.S. |
| Ira and Putnam 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% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$59,609±$12kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Putnam 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±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$220,900±$32kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Ira and Putnam 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. |
— | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,096±$305 22% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Clarendon 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. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,740 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±27.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Clarendon 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
16 minLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Clarendon and Putnam 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 | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Mill River Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.4 |
| 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.