Compare towns
Castleton vs Bellows Falls vs Shaftsbury
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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Bellows Falls has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Shaftsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
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 | Bellows Falls | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,891Lowest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
43±6.6Highest about the VT average |
| Shaftsbury and Bellows Falls 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% |
22.6%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shaftsbury and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
$86,071±$24kHighest 6% above VT |
| Shaftsbury 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 |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$267,300±$24kHighest 16% below VT |
| Shaftsbury and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,079±$54 13% below VT |
| Castleton and Shaftsbury 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 |
$4,448Highest 12% below VT |
$4,015 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.7%±36 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
25 minHighest 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
7.2%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Shaftsbury and Bellows Falls 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 | — | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.