Compare towns
Sandgate vs Plainfield vs Castleton vs Wheelock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Wheelock has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Sandgate | Plainfield | Castleton | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,314 |
4,453Highest |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
| Sandgate and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
| Castleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31k 39% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
— |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$2,937 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 17 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Wheelock 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 | — |
| High school 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.