Compare towns
Sheldon vs Castleton vs Sharon vs Irasburg
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 homeowners (89%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Irasburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Sharon | Irasburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
4,453Highest |
1,577 |
1,384Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
40.3±5.3 6% below VT |
| Sharon and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
24.4%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Irasburg and Sheldon 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Castleton 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% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$98,534±$13kHighest 21% above VT |
| Irasburg and Sharon 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 |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$230,800±$22k 27% below VT |
| Sharon 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±$195 8% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,063±$86Lowest 14% below VT |
| Sharon 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 |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$3,966 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
17%±28.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
5.7%±2.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Sharon 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 | Sharon School District | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.