Compare towns
Ira vs Strafford vs Castleton vs Mount Tabor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Strafford | Castleton | Mount Tabor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381 |
4,306 |
4,453Highest |
304Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
57.8±10.6Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Mount Tabor and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Strafford 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% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
42.4%±18.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Tabor 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% |
40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
— |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$420,500±$76k 26% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Mount Tabor 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. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$2,143±$367Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Mount Tabor and Strafford 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. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,233 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Castleton 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% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
46 minHighest 72% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Mount Tabor 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Strafford 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.