Compare towns
Castleton vs Sheldon vs Plainfield 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Plainfield | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,267 |
1,314Lowest |
3,010 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
34±5.6Lowest 21% below VT |
| Plainfield and Sheldon 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.8%±3.8 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Poultney and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
9.3%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$72,617±$6k 11% below VT |
| Sheldon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$206,200±$18kLowest 35% below VT |
| Plainfield 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 8% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$913±$84Lowest 26% below VT |
| Sheldon and Plainfield 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 |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,520 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Castleton 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | — | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school 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 |
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.