Compare towns
Ira vs Sandgate vs Unity 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
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Sandgate | Unity | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
435 |
1,375 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4 43% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Unity and Sandgate 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% |
13.1%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Sandgate 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% |
26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
| Unity 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 18% below U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
| Unity and Ira 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. |
— | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
| Unity and Castleton 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. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Unity 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% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 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 3% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Unity 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 | — | — | Unity School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | — | None 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.