Compare towns
Castleton vs Sharon vs Wilder
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 expensive homes ($347k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,577Lowest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
| Sharon and Wilder 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest 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%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
| Sharon and Wilder 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±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
| Sharon and Wilder 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 |
$5,505 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Wilder 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Sharon and Wilder 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 | — |
| High school 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.