Compare towns

Marshfield vs Windham vs Castleton vs Sheffield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marshfield has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).

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.

MeasureMarshfieldWindhamCastletonSheffield
People
Population
470Lowest
594
4,453Highest
573
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
-5.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.4±8.8
about the VT average
44.2±7.4Highest
about the VT average
38.3±4.3Lowest
11% below VT
42±8
about the VT average
Windham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±9.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±6.4
VT: 17.9%
17.1%±6.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Marshfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
10.2%±4.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.7%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
19.2%±4
VT: 21.4%
Windham and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.7%
VT: 43.8%
48.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
37.9%
VT: 43.8%
27.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±2.4
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
19.3%±1.8Highest
VT: 7%
5.9%±4.7
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,375±$20k
4% above VT
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
$73,854±$23k
9% below VT
$58,333±$26kLowest
28% below VT
Windham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$178,300±$31k
44% below VT
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
$224,800±$71k
29% below VT
$171,900±$50kLowest
46% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$79
9% below VT
—
$1,137±$195Highest
8% below VT
$967±$79Lowest
22% below VT
Castleton and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,269
35% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$3,167
37% below VT
$2,123Lowest
58% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.4%±62.4
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94Lowest
VT: 48.4%
67.7%±21.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
61.5%±41.2
VT: 48.4%
Castleton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.2%
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
83.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1987Highest
11 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
24% above VT
27 min
14% above VT
19 minLowest
17% below VT
30 minHighest
28% above VT
Work from home
17.5%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
6.2%±3.9
VT: 16.9%
6.1%±2.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Windham and Marshfield 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 — — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
High school 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.