Compare towns
Ira vs Rupert vs Springfield 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 people working from home (18.6%).
Springfield has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Springfield | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
676 |
1,122 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4% 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. |
51.4±8.8 32% 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% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Springfield 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% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% 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% |
0%±1.5Lowest 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±$36k 9% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
| Springfield and Rupert 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±$63k 9% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Springfield and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— | $1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Springfield 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. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% 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% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest 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% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer 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 |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rupert and Springfield 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 |
| High school in town | — | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.



