What stands out worked out from the figures below

Castleton has the most expensive homes ($225k median).

Sheffield has the most kids (34.7% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Castleton	Sheffield
People
Population	4,453Highest	190Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.5% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	38.3±4.3Highest 11% below VT	32.5±2.3Lowest 25% below VT
	Castleton and Sheffield 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%	34.7%±13.7Highest VT: 17.9%
	Sheffield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4%	13.2%±14Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Castleton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Highest VT: 43.8%	16.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7%	2.1%±5.8Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT	$65,795±$12kLowest 19% below VT
	Castleton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$224,800±$71kHighest 29% below VT	$122,700±$70kLowest 61% below VT
	Castleton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT	$1,219±$563Highest about the VT average
	Sheffield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,167Highest 37% below VT	$1,714Lowest 66% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4%	36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Castleton and Sheffield 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%	8.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79%Lowest VT: 73.2%	85.3%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 17% below VT	21 minHighest 12% below VT
Work from home	6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9%	8.6%±6.3Highest VT: 16.9%
	Sheffield and Castleton 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	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.