Compare towns
Ira vs Upton vs Castleton vs Middletown Springs
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 oldest population (median age 54.1).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Middletown Springs has the most kids (24% 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 | Upton | Castleton | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
8,189Highest |
4,453 |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
| Ira and Middletown Springs 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% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middletown Springs and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Middletown Springs 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$82,000±$12k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$262,200±$24k 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,208±$438Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Middletown Springs 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,595 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Middletown Springs 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— | — |
| 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.