Compare towns

Waltham vs Ira vs Panton

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).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
Panton has the most kids (24.9% 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.

MeasureWalthamIraPanton
People
Population
452
381Lowest
690Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
-4.6%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
60.8±7.3Highest
41% above VT
54.1±5.5
26% above VT
42.7±3.8Lowest
about the VT average
Waltham and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.8%±7.4
VT: 17.9%
10.5%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
24.9%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
Panton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
45.4%±3.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
28.9%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
16.7%±2.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39%Highest
VT: 43.8%
37.1%
VT: 43.8%
35.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.1
VT: 7%
3.4%±3.5Highest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Ira and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,500±$14kHighest
20% above VT
$71,827±$5kLowest
12% below VT
$86,667±$10k
7% above VT
Waltham and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$329,700±$51k
4% above VT
$272,900±$18kLowest
14% below VT
$438,000±$40kHighest
38% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,096±$113
11% below VT
$942±$52Lowest
24% below VT
$1,410±$130Highest
14% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,714
13% above VT
$4,146Lowest
18% below VT
$6,695Highest
33% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.2%±58.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
36.4%±100
VT: 48.4%
61%±39Highest
VT: 48.4%
Panton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.3%
VT: 10.1%
14.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
3.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%
VT: 73.2%
90.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
83.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
1974Lowest
2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
18% above VT
28 minHighest
20% above VT
26 minLowest
11% above VT
Work from home
20.6%±5.7
VT: 16.9%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
26.7%±8.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Panton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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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.