Compare towns
Berkshire vs Castleton vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berkshire has the youngest population (median age 31.6).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.5%).
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 | Berkshire | Castleton | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,745Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.6±6.9Lowest 27% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
40.9±3.5Highest 5% below VT |
| Sheldon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Berkshire and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.8%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,406±$21kLowest 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
| Sheldon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $244,600±$26k 23% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,525±$267Highest 24% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Berkshire and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 30% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,578Highest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±52.6 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 37% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Berkshire 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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 |
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.