Compare towns
Castleton vs Charlotte vs Shelburne
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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Charlotte has the highest household income ($144k).
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Charlotte | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
3,916Lowest |
7,969Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.2% VT: +2.8% |
+8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
52.2±5Highest 21% above VT |
50.9±3.2 18% above VT |
| Charlotte and Shelburne 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% |
19.6%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shelburne and Charlotte 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% |
22.3%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.2% VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$144,375±$27kHighest 78% above VT |
$115,963±$16k 43% above VT |
| Charlotte and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$695,300±$53kHighest 120% above VT |
$588,100±$44k 86% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,738±$803Highest 41% above VT |
$1,442±$589 17% above VT |
| Charlotte and Shelburne 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 |
$9,221Highest 83% above VT |
$8,173 62% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.1%±28.6 VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Charlotte 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% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
95.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.8%±8.6 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Charlotte 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 | #3 of 70 in VT | #8 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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.