Compare towns
Ira vs Waltham vs Castleton vs Sandgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waltham has the highest household income ($98k).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
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 | Waltham | Castleton | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
452 |
4,453Highest |
435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
55.7±5.4 29% above VT |
| Waltham and Sandgate 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% |
12.8%±7.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Sandgate 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% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
| Waltham 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 |
$329,700±$51kHighest 4% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
| Waltham and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,096±$113 11% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— |
| Castleton and Waltham 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 |
$5,714Highest 13% above VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Waltham 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 Our Story | 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.