Compare towns
Castleton vs Highgate vs Putnam vs Sheldon
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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
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 | Putnam | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
3,528 |
540Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest 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%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Putnam and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
| Highgate 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 20% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$3,674Highest 18% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | 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 |
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.