Compare towns
Castleton vs Sheldon vs Highgate vs Ira
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Highgate | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,267 |
3,528 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Highgate 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Highgate 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Highgate 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 29% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Highgate and Ira 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
| Sheldon and Castleton 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$4,146Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.