Compare towns

Putney vs Castleton vs Ira

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

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.

MeasurePutneyCastletonIra
People
Population
2,622
4,453Highest
381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
38.3±4.3
11% below VT
54.1±5.5Highest
26% above VT
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±6.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
10.5%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Castleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±3.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
20.7%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
28.9%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
37.9%
VT: 43.8%
37.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
19.3%±1.8
VT: 7%
3.4%±3.5Lowest
VT: 7%
Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18kHighest
about the VT average
$73,854±$23k
9% below VT
$71,827±$5kLowest
12% below VT
Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$300,000±$44kHighest
5% below VT
$224,800±$71kLowest
29% below VT
$272,900±$18k
14% below VT
Putney and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
$1,137±$195Highest
8% below VT
$942±$52
24% 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
$5,313Highest
5% above VT
$3,167Lowest
37% below VT
$4,146
18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4
VT: 48.4%
67.7%±21.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
36.4%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Castleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16%Highest
VT: 10.1%
12.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79%
VT: 73.2%
90.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
1974Lowest
2 yrs older than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
24% below VT
19 min
17% below VT
28 minHighest
20% above VT
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
6.2%±3.9
VT: 16.9%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #32 of 70 in VT #39 of 70 in VT —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 —
High school in town None 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.