Compare towns
Castleton vs Sheldon vs Strafford vs Tunbridge
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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Strafford | Tunbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,267 |
1,372 |
1,253Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
| Strafford and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Tunbridge 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$89,464±$26k 10% above VT |
| Strafford and Tunbridge 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
| Tunbridge and Sheldon 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,645 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Castleton 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.2% 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 |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.