Compare towns
Sheldon vs Castleton vs Bolton
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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Sheldon | Castleton | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
4,453Highest |
1,163Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Highest 5% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
| Sheldon and Castleton 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
| Bolton 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±$61k 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$311,600±$42kHighest about the VT average |
| Bolton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,299±$273Highest 5% above VT |
| Bolton and Sheldon 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,826Highest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
28%±30.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Bolton 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 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| 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.