Compare towns
Sheldon vs Benson vs Castleton vs Proctor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Sheldon | Benson | Castleton | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
784Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
| Benson and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
| Benson and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
| Sheldon and Benson 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 |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% 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 | $3,578 29% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Sheldon 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.