Compare towns
Ira vs Rupert vs Salem vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Salem has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Salem | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
676 |
2,611 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Salem 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% |
42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
| Rupert and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$362,500±$63kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— | $948±$40 33% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146 33% above U.S. |
$4,594Highest 47% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Rupert 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 | — | — | #376 of 484 in NY | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | — | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.