Compare towns
Castleton vs Fair Haven vs Sheldon vs Springfield
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).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Springfield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Fair Haven | Sheldon | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
2,724 |
2,267Lowest |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
43.2±3.7Highest about the VT average |
| Springfield and Sheldon 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% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Fair Haven 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% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield 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% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% 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 |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$192,400±$20k 39% below VT |
| Sheldon and Castleton 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 |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$963±$100 22% below 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 |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Fair Haven 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% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | — | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.