Compare towns
Bloomfield vs Castleton vs Belvidere vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bloomfield has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Belvidere has the most people working from home (9.4%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k 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 | Bloomfield | Castleton | Belvidere | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 234Lowest |
4,453Highest |
422 |
573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.9±12 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
40.7±6.5 6% below VT |
42±8Highest about the VT average |
| Sheffield and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±14.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bloomfield and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bloomfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,375±$17kLowest 33% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$81,563±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$58,333±$26k 28% below VT |
| Belvidere and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,600±$63k 40% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$239,200±$51kHighest 24% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
| Belvidere and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$967±$79Lowest 22% below VT |
| Belvidere and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,800 44% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$3,908Highest 22% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 28% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 4.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Belvidere and Castleton 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school 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.