Compare towns
Shaftsbury vs Castleton vs Pittsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shaftsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Pittsford has the most people working from home (10.1%).
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 | Shaftsbury | Castleton | Pittsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,607 |
4,453Highest |
2,892Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43±6.6 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47.7±6.3Highest 11% above VT |
| Pittsford and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Shaftsbury and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.4%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Pittsford and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
37%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,071±$24kHighest 6% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$69,705±$7kLowest 14% below VT |
| Shaftsbury and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$24kHighest 16% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$197,000±$33kLowest 38% below VT |
| Shaftsbury and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,079±$54 13% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$781±$167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Castleton and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,015Highest 20% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,378 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.7%±36 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
18.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Pittsford and Shaftsbury 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 | #62 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #54 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.