Compare towns
Shaftsbury vs White River Junction vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | White River Junction | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,607 |
3,364Lowest |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43±6.6Highest about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Shaftsbury and Castleton 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% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 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%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Shaftsbury and Castleton 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% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,071±$24kHighest 6% above VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
| Shaftsbury and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$24k 16% below VT |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| White River Junction and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| White River Junction and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,015 20% below VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.7%±36 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest 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% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction 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 |
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.