Compare towns
Castleton vs Mapleton vs North Berwick vs Shaftsbury
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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
North Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% 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 | Mapleton | North Berwick | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,884Lowest |
5,129Highest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.6±4.7 7% above U.S. |
43±6.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Shaftsbury and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shaftsbury and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shaftsbury and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$101,875±$16kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$86,071±$24k 7% above U.S. |
| North Berwick and Mapleton 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$428,500±$33kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$267,300±$24k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,105±$116 22% below U.S. |
$1,079±$54 24% below U.S. |
| Castleton and North Berwick 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 |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,735 20% above U.S. |
$4,015Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.2%±28.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.7%±36 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Berwick and Mapleton 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 | — | #82 of 133 in ME | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Noble High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
— |
| 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.