Compare towns
Castleton vs Sheldon vs Cornish vs Poultney
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%).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 34).
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 | Sheldon | Cornish | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,267 |
1,816Lowest |
3,010 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
34±5.6Lowest 13% below 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% |
17.8%±3.8 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% |
22.8%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Poultney 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% |
35.5% 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% |
9.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$72,617±$6kLowest 10% below 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±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$206,200±$18kLowest 38% 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±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$913±$84Lowest 35% 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. |
$3,520 13% 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% |
43.3%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above 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% |
11.3%±4.4 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 | — | — | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Cornish School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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 | 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.