Compare towns
Castleton vs Shoreham vs Stratton vs Shaftsbury
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).
Shoreham has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Shaftsbury has the most homeowners (82.3%).
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 | Shoreham | Stratton | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,269 |
532Lowest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
— | +0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
51.8±7.2Highest 20% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
43±6.6 about the VT average |
| Shoreham and Shaftsbury 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% |
18%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Shaftsbury 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% |
26.1%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Shoreham and Shaftsbury 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% |
36.2% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$93,654±$23k 15% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$86,071±$24k 6% above VT |
| Stratton and Shoreham 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 |
$316,400±$34k about the VT average |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$267,300±$24k 16% below VT |
| Stratton and Shoreham 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 |
$1,306±$335Highest 6% above VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT |
| Shoreham and Stratton 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 |
$4,713 6% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$4,015 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.7%±36 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Shaftsbury 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% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.2%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Shoreham and Shaftsbury 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 | — | — | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| 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 |
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.