Compare towns
Shaftsbury vs Petersburgh vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shaftsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
Petersburgh has the most affordable homes ($170k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Petersburgh | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,607 |
1,310Lowest |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±6.6 11% above U.S. |
51.3±6.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Petersburgh 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 U.S.: 22% |
16%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Petersburgh 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,071±$24kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$77,692±$15k 4% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Shaftsbury and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$24kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$170,300±$23kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
| 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±$54Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,100±$630 22% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,015Highest 29% above U.S. |
$3,223 3% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.7%±36 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.2%±42.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Petersburgh 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 |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.