Compare towns
Ira vs Rupert vs Benson vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
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.
| Measure | Ira | Rupert | Benson | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
676 |
784 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Rupert 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% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Benson 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% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Rupert and Benson 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 |
$362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
— | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
| Castleton and Benson 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 |
$4,594Highest 9% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Benson 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.