Compare towns
Castleton vs Sheldon vs Putnam vs St. Albans
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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
St. Albans has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.5%).
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.
| Measure | Castleton | Sheldon | Putnam | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
2,267 |
540Lowest |
7,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.3±2.8 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and St. Albans 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% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±4.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$90,060±$19k 12% above U.S. |
| Putnam and St. Albans 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. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$363,300±$22kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
— | $1,460±$152Highest 3% above U.S. |
| St. Albans and Sheldon 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. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$4,689Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.6%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| St. Albans 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and St. Albans 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 | — | — | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | PUTNAM CENTRAL 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 | 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.