Compare towns
Castleton vs Dover vs Fairfield 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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Fairfield has the highest household income ($87k).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Dover | Fairfield | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,466Lowest |
1,938 |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Fairfield and Sheldon 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 |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Dover and Fairfield 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 |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% 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 |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Dover 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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 |
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.