Compare towns
Castleton vs Sharon vs Chittenden
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).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Chittenden has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Sharon | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,577 |
1,318Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
50.8±6.3Highest 18% above VT |
| Chittenden and Sharon 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% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest 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%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Chittenden 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
51.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$106,250±$28kHighest 31% above VT |
| Chittenden 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 |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$346,800±$35kHighest 10% above VT |
| Chittenden and Sharon 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 |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,125±$488Lowest 9% below 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 |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$5,346 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Chittenden and Sharon 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 | Sharon School District | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| 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.