Compare towns
Hampton vs Sheldon vs Castleton vs West Haven
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 the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
West Haven has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145 |
2,267 |
4,453Highest |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
54±10.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| West Haven and Hampton 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% |
17.5%±13.3 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% |
29.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Haven 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% |
30.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,796±$8kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$85,250±$29kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| West Haven and Sheldon 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. |
$245,000±$34k 26% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and West Haven 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±$195Lowest 20% 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. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$4,485Highest 44% 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% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below 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% |
10.4%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and West Haven 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.