Compare towns
Sandgate vs Sheldon 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%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Sheldon | Castleton | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
2,267 |
4,453Highest |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2%±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 |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
| Sheldon and Castleton 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 |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% 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 | — | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% 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 | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,578Highest 29% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$2,937 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Sandgate 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer 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 |
25 min 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 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 | — | 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 |
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.