Compare towns
Castleton vs Sheldon vs Townshend vs Hyde Park
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).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
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 | Townshend | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,267 |
1,538Lowest |
3,000 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
41.6±3.9 3% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.7%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Townshend 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% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$84,375±$9kHighest 4% above VT |
| Hyde Park and Townshend 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 |
$287,200±$79kHighest 9% below VT |
$198,400±$39kLowest 37% below VT |
| Townshend 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 |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$1,007±$340Lowest 18% 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 |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$3,883 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | — | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058B · Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Lamoille Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1Lowest |
10.0Highest |
| 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.