Compare towns
Castleton vs Cornwall vs Monroe 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).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Cornwall | Monroe | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,208 |
786Lowest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
51±10.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
43±6.6 11% above U.S. |
| Monroe and Cornwall 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% |
18.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±7.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shaftsbury and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe and Cornwall 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$88,150±$7k 9% above U.S. |
$86,071±$24k 7% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Monroe 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. |
$458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$312,700±$58k 6% below U.S. |
$267,300±$24k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,125±$206 20% below U.S. |
$1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
$1,079±$54Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Cornwall 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 |
$6,726Highest 116% above U.S. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$4,015 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.7%±36 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Monroe School District | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.