Compare towns
Castleton vs Chester vs Enosburgh 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).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Enosburgh has the most renters (24.3% rent).
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 | Chester | Enosburgh | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,992 |
2,804 |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
40.6±3.9 6% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Enosburgh 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$63,828±$17k 21% 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 |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Chester 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 |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% 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 |
$4,262Highest 15% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Enosburgh 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% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Chester 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #26 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
10.4Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.