Compare towns
Proctor vs Sheldon vs Castleton vs West Rutland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
West Rutland has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Proctor | Sheldon | Castleton | West Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794Lowest |
2,267 |
4,453Highest |
2,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47.8±5.1Highest 11% above VT |
| West Rutland and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.8%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Rutland and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$61,161±$27kLowest 25% below VT |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$196,400±$27kLowest 38% below VT |
| Sheldon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$883±$151Lowest 28% 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 | $4,032Highest 20% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,498 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
60.1%±22.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and West Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±4.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| West Rutland 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 | — |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.