Compare towns
Castleton vs Putney vs Royalton vs Sharon
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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Putney | Royalton | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,622 |
2,752 |
1,577Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
| Sharon and Royalton 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
| Royalton and Sharon 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
| Sharon and Putney 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,675 7% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Royalton and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #48 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | White River Unified School District #79 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | White River Valley High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.