Compare towns
Castleton vs Sharon vs Reading vs St. Albans
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 the most kids (21% under 18).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
St. Albans has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.5%).
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 | Sharon | Reading | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,577 |
699Lowest |
7,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+16.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
41.3±2.8 4% below VT |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and St. Albans 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%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
8.1%±4.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$90,060±$19kHighest 11% above VT |
| St. Albans and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$363,300±$22k 15% above VT |
| Reading and St. Albans 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±$155 12% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,460±$152Highest 18% above VT |
| St. Albans and Sharon 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,689 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
73.6%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| St. Albans and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.7%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | — | — | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Sharon School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| 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 |
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.