Compare towns
Castleton vs Panton vs Stratton 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).
Panton has the most people working from home (26.7%).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Shaftsbury has the oldest population (median age 43).
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 | Panton | Stratton | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
690 |
532Lowest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6% VT: +2.8% |
— | +0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
42.7±3.8 about the VT average |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
43±6.6Highest about the VT average |
| Shaftsbury and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.9%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Shaftsbury 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% |
16.7%±2.9 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Shaftsbury and Castleton 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% |
35.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$86,667±$10k 7% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$86,071±$24k 6% above VT |
| Stratton and Panton 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 |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$267,300±$24k 16% below VT |
| Panton and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,410±$130Highest 14% above VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT |
| Panton and Stratton 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 |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,015 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
61%±39 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.7%±36 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Panton 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% |
3.2% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school 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.