Compare towns
Castleton vs Hampton vs Sheldon vs Smithville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
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 | Hampton | Sheldon | Smithville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,145Lowest |
2,267 |
1,525 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±14.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
43.1±3.2Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Hampton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$70,433±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| 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 32% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$173,200±$42k 48% below U.S. |
| 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 20% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$889±$186Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$4,254Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±31.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Hampton 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.