Compare towns

Castleton vs Sheldon vs Cornish

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Cornish has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).

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.

MeasureCastletonSheldonCornish
People
Population
4,453Highest
2,267
1,816Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
40.9±3.5
5% above U.S.
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
23.7%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sheldon 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
U.S.: 17.2%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornish 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
14.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$78,533±$25k
about the U.S. average
$91,821±$2kHighest
14% above U.S.
Cornish and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$272,400±$61k
18% below U.S.
$296,000±$69kHighest
11% below U.S.
Cornish and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,286±$379Highest
9% below U.S.
$1,221±$227
14% below U.S.
Sheldon and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$3,578
15% above U.S.
$5,796Highest
86% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.5%±38.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
25 minHighest
5% below U.S.
24 min
8% below U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Sheldon and Cornish 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 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Cornish School District
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

U.S. 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.