Compare towns
Castleton vs Sheldon vs Williamstown vs Northfield
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).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
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 | Williamstown | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
2,267Lowest |
3,579 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
42±5Highest about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Williamstown 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% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Williamstown 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% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Northfield 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% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Williamstown 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 |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
| Northfield 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±$379 4% above VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Williamstown 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 |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Williamstown 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 | — | #47 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5Lowest |
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.