Compare towns
Cavendish vs Castleton vs Sharon vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Whitingham has the most homeowners (85.2%).
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 | Cavendish | Castleton | Sharon | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,577 |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
46.4±7.1Highest 8% above VT |
| Whitingham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Cavendish and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
| Sharon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Sharon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Cavendish and Sharon 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Sharon School District | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.