Compare towns
Ira vs Williston vs Middlesex 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 oldest population (median age 54.1).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Williston | Middlesex | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,943 |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Ira and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Middlesex and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146 18% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Williston 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.