Compare towns
Castleton vs Dorset vs Jericho 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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Jericho has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Dorset | Jericho | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
2,092Lowest |
5,114Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Jericho and Dorset 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% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Sheldon 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% |
21.9%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dorset 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% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
65.3% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Jericho and Dorset 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 |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$493,100±$38k 56% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Dorset and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Jericho and Dorset 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 |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$7,318 45% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Dorset 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% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
26 minHighest 10% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Jericho 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 | — | #6 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0 |
— |
| 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.