Compare towns
Ira vs Union vs Castleton vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
West Haven has the highest household income ($85k).
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 | Union | Castleton | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381 |
2,663 |
4,453Highest |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
54±10.5 39% above U.S. |
| Ira and West Haven 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% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±13.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Castleton 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% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Haven 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% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$85,250±$29kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| West Haven and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$245,000±$34k 26% below U.S. |
| Ira and Union 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. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
— |
| Union 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. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,485Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
10.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and West Haven 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 | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | 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.