Compare towns
Ira vs West Burke 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 most homeowners (90.7%).
West Burke has the most people working from home (20%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% 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 | West Burke | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 381 |
161Lowest |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
59.2±16.3Highest 37% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| West Burke and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±10.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and West Burke 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% |
31.1%±13.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| West Burke 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% |
28.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±3.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$27,321±$15kLowest 66% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
| Castleton and Ira 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 |
$275,000±$60kHighest 13% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| West Burke and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52 24% below VT |
$525±$373Lowest 57% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
| Castleton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146Highest 18% below VT |
$3,194 37% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.8%±31.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
| West Burke and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.4% VT: 10.1% |
20.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
61.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| West Burke 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 |
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.