Compare towns
Calais vs Castleton vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Calais | Castleton | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713 |
4,453Highest |
573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Highest about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42±8Highest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
| Calais and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$967±$79Lowest 22% below VT |
| Calais and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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 |
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.