Compare towns
Castleton vs Carmel vs Shaftsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Carmel has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
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 | Carmel | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,941Lowest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.5Highest 19% above U.S. |
43±6.6 11% above U.S. |
| Carmel and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shaftsbury and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shaftsbury 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$82,188±$22k about the U.S. average |
$86,071±$24kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Shaftsbury and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$256,800±$37k 23% below U.S. |
$267,300±$24kHighest 20% below U.S. |
| Shaftsbury and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,276±$187Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,079±$54Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Carmel and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 about the U.S. average |
$2,662Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$4,015Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.7%±36Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.5%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shaftsbury and Carmel 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 | #77 of 133 in ME | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.