Compare towns
Castleton vs Sharon vs Whitingham vs Hyde Park
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).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Whitingham has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
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 | Whitingham | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,577 |
1,368Lowest |
3,000 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
46.4±7.1Highest 8% above VT |
41.6±3.9 3% below VT |
| Whitingham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
20%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Hyde Park 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% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.7%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$84,375±$9kHighest 4% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$198,400±$39kLowest 37% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,007±$340 18% 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 |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$3,883 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Whitingham 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% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Sharon and Whitingham 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 | — | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Sharon School District | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058B · Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | Lamoille Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8Lowest |
10.0Highest |
| 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.