Compare towns
Barton vs Castleton vs Shaftsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most people working from home (16.5%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Shaftsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
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 | Barton | Castleton | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 730Lowest |
4,453Highest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
43±6.6Highest about the VT average |
| Shaftsbury and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shaftsbury and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Shaftsbury and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
40.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$86,071±$24kHighest 6% above VT |
| Shaftsbury and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$267,300±$24kHighest 16% below VT |
| Shaftsbury and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,079±$54 13% below VT |
| Castleton and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185 37% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,015Highest 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.7%±36Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
82.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.2%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Shaftsbury 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| 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.