Compare towns
Ira vs Rupert 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
Rupert has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Rupert | Castleton | Clarendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
676 |
4,453Highest |
2,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
52.3±4.1 21% above 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% |
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% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$59,609±$12kLowest 27% below VT |
| Rupert 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 |
$362,500±$63kHighest 14% 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 |
$4,594Highest 9% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,740 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±27.1 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
9.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Rupert 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 | — | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | Mill River Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.4 |
| 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.