Compare towns
Bridgewater 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
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Bridgewater | Castleton | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3kLowest 13% 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 | $218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418 32% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,578Highest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Bridgewater 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.