Compare towns
Castleton vs Wolcott vs Sheldon 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).
Wolcott has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Shaftsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
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 | Wolcott | Sheldon | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,507Lowest |
2,267 |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
43±6.6Highest about the VT average |
| Shaftsbury and Wolcott 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% |
22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shaftsbury and Sheldon 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% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Shaftsbury and Castleton 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% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$86,071±$24kHighest 6% above VT |
| Shaftsbury 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±$71k 29% below VT |
$221,300±$23kLowest 30% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$267,300±$24k 16% below VT |
| Sheldon and Shaftsbury 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 |
$1,059±$118Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,079±$54 13% 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 |
$3,930 22% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,015Highest 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.7%±36 VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.5% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.2%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Wolcott 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 | — | — | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Wolcott School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| 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.