Compare towns
Ira vs Ripton vs Strafford vs Castleton
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%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
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 | Strafford | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
508 |
1,372 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Ira and Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 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 |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Ripton and Strafford 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 |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
— | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
| Castleton and Strafford 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | 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.