Compare towns
Castleton vs Barton vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Barton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k 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 | Castleton | Barton | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,815 |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.9±6.5Highest 4% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Barton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Barton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.7% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$66,250±$16kLowest 18% 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 | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$201,200±$28kLowest 36% 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 | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$793±$70Lowest 36% 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 | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,355 33% below VT |
$3,578Highest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
35 minHighest 50% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Sheldon 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lake Region Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.5 |
— |
| 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.