Compare towns
Sheffield vs Castleton vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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 | Sheffield | Castleton | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 573Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8Highest about the VT average |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Sheffield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $967±$79 22% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Castleton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±41.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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.