Compare towns
Castleton vs Fairfield vs Sheldon vs Sutton
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).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 46.6).
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 | Fairfield | Sheldon | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,938 |
2,267 |
790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
46.6±5.7Highest 8% above VT |
| Sutton and Fairfield 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% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest 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% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sutton 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% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% 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 |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
| Fairfield and Sheldon 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 |
$1,056±$441Lowest 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 |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Sutton 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% 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 |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Sutton 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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.