Compare towns
Ira vs Whitingham vs Castleton vs West Haven
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 expensive homes ($273k median).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Whitingham | Castleton | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381 |
1,368 |
4,453Highest |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
54±10.5 25% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±13.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham 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 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and West Haven 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% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$85,250±$29kHighest 5% above VT |
| West Haven 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±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
| Ira and Whitingham 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 |
$673±$150Lowest 45% 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 | $4,146 18% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,485 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Whitingham 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
10.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| West Haven and Whitingham 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 | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | — | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
— | — |
| 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.