Compare towns
Castleton vs Rochester vs Sheldon
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).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.5%).
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 | Rochester | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,389Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
| Sheldon and Castleton 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 |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Rochester 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 |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$3,977Highest 21% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Rochester 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Sheldon 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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 |
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.