Compare towns
Cabot vs Castleton vs Sheldon vs Sunderland
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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 40.9).
Sunderland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Cabot | Castleton | Sheldon | Sunderland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,579 |
4,453Highest |
2,267 |
1,269Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+10.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.3±6.6 6% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
40.9±3.5Highest 5% below VT |
40.8±2.8 5% below VT |
| Sheldon and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
23.6%±5.4 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%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Cabot and Castleton 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,031±$16k 5% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$88,523±$16kHighest 9% above VT |
| Sunderland and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$300,000±$43kHighest 5% below VT |
| Sunderland 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±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,413±$242Highest 15% above VT |
| Sunderland and Sheldon 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,136 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.5%±61.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Sunderland 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 27% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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 | 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.