Compare towns
Ira vs Stratton vs Wheelock 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).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Stratton | Wheelock | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
532 |
717 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Ira and Wheelock 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock 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% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Stratton 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 14% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Castleton 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 |
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.