Compare towns

Castleton vs Putnam vs Shoreham

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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Putnam has the most homeowners (95.9%).
Shoreham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

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.

MeasureCastletonPutnamShoreham
People
Population
4,453Highest
540Lowest
1,269
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
53.6±6.4Highest
38% above U.S.
51.8±7.2
33% above U.S.
Putnam and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
35.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
1.7%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$92,344±$14k
14% above U.S.
$93,654±$23kHighest
16% above U.S.
Shoreham and Putnam 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.
$266,200±$48k
20% below U.S.
$316,400±$34kHighest
5% below U.S.
Shoreham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195Lowest
20% below U.S.
—
$1,306±$335Highest
8% below U.S.
Shoreham 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
$3,674
18% above U.S.
$4,713Highest
51% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.3%±48.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Shoreham 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%
7.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
21 min
19% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±5.7
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Shoreham and Putnam 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 — —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.