Compare towns
Castleton vs Monkton vs Sutton vs Shaftsbury
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).
Monkton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Monkton | Sutton | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,999 |
790Lowest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47.1±5.4Highest 9% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
43±6.6 about the VT average |
| Monkton and Sutton 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% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shaftsbury 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±2.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Shaftsbury and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
50%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$119,688±$28kHighest 47% above VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$86,071±$24k 6% above VT |
| Monkton and Shaftsbury 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 |
$379,900±$18kHighest 20% above VT |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$267,300±$24k 16% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,301±$120Highest 5% above VT |
— | $1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT |
| Monkton 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 |
$5,887Highest 17% above VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$4,015 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±64 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.7%±36 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Monkton 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% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
82.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±4.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
7.2%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| 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.