Compare towns
Brandon vs Castleton vs Sandgate vs Wheelock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Wheelock has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Brandon | Castleton | Sandgate | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
4,453Highest |
435Lowest |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
| Sandgate and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
$64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
| Castleton and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kHighest 28% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$193,800±$31k 39% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Brandon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— | — |
| Castleton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241Highest 16% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$2,937 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1959 17 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Wheelock 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.