Compare towns
Castleton vs Highgate vs Orwell 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Orwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Highgate | Orwell | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
3,528 |
1,294Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Orwell 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% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Orwell 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% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% 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 |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,914Highest 22% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Orwell 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Orwell 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 | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | 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.