Compare towns
Castleton vs Sandgate vs Cornish vs Shaftsbury
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Cornish has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
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 | Sandgate | Cornish | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
435Lowest |
1,816 |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
54±8.3 39% above U.S. |
43±6.6 11% above U.S. |
| Sandgate and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
26.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shaftsbury and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$86,071±$24k 7% above U.S. |
| Cornish 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±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$267,300±$24k 20% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
— | $1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,079±$54Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 about the U.S. average |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$4,015 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.7%±36 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Shaftsbury 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% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Cornish 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 | — | — | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Cornish School District | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| 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 | 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.