Compare towns
Cabot vs Castleton vs Ira vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cabot has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Sheldon has the highest household income ($79k).
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 | Cabot | Castleton | Ira | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,579 |
4,453Highest |
381Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.3±6.6 6% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,031±$16k 5% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
| Sheldon and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,500±$77k 15% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Ira and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,243±$354 about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,639Highest 8% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 27% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | 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.