Compare towns
Hampton vs Sheldon vs Castleton vs Poultney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.5%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 34).
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 | Hampton | Sheldon | Castleton | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145Lowest |
2,267 |
4,453Highest |
3,010 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±14.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
34±5.6Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Poultney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$72,617±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$206,200±$18k 38% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$913±$84Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,578Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,520 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Poultney 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 | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Poultney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.