Compare towns
Castleton vs Sheffield vs Poultney
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 oldest population (median age 38.3).
Sheffield has the most kids (34.7% under 18).
Poultney has the most people working from home (11.3%).
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 | Sheffield | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
190Lowest |
3,010 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -12%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Highest 11% below VT |
32.5±2.3Lowest 25% below VT |
34±5.6 21% below VT |
| Castleton and Poultney 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% |
34.7%±13.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.8%±3.8Lowest 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%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
13.2%±14Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Poultney and Castleton 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% |
35.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±5.8Lowest VT: 7% |
9.3%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$65,795±$12kLowest 19% below VT |
$72,617±$6k 11% below VT |
| Castleton and Poultney 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 |
$206,200±$18k 35% below VT |
| Castleton and Poultney 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 |
$1,219±$563Highest about the VT average |
$913±$84Lowest 26% below VT |
| Sheffield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 37% below VT |
$1,714Lowest 66% below VT |
$3,520Highest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Poultney 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% |
8.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
85.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.6%±6.3 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Poultney and Sheffield 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 | — | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Poultney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.