Compare towns
Ira vs Stowe vs Windham vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Stowe | Windham | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
5,285Highest |
594 |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Ira and Stowe 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% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Windham and Stowe 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 |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
— | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Stowe and Castleton 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 |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Windham 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% |
9.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Windham 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 | — | Stowe Town School District | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | Stowe High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.