Compare towns
Ira vs Ripton vs Castleton vs Clarendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
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 | Ripton | Castleton | Clarendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
508 |
4,453Highest |
2,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
52.3±4.1 21% above VT |
| Ira and Clarendon 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest 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±$5k 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$59,609±$12kLowest 27% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$220,900±$32kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
— | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,096±$305 11% below VT |
| Castleton and Clarendon 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,740 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±27.1 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 min 17% below VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
9.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Clarendon 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 | 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 |
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.