Compare towns
Castleton vs Dummerston vs Highgate vs Shaftsbury
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).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Dummerston | Highgate | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,090Lowest |
3,528 |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
43±6.6 about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shaftsbury and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Highgate 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$86,071±$24k 6% above VT |
| Dummerston and Shaftsbury 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 |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$267,300±$24k 16% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,079±$54 13% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$4,015 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.7%±36 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Shaftsbury 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.2%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.