Compare towns
Sheldon vs Castleton vs Shoreham 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).
Shoreham has the oldest population (median age 51.8).
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 | Shoreham | Irasburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
4,453Highest |
1,269Lowest |
1,384 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.8±7.2Highest 20% above VT |
40.3±5.3 6% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7Lowest 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% |
26.1%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Shoreham 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% |
36.2% VT: 43.8% |
23.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$93,654±$23k 15% above VT |
$98,534±$13kHighest 21% above VT |
| Irasburg and Shoreham 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 |
$316,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$230,800±$22k 27% below VT |
| Shoreham 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 |
$1,306±$335Highest 6% above VT |
$1,063±$86Lowest 14% below VT |
| Shoreham 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 |
$4,713Highest 6% below 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% |
33.3%±48.3 VT: 48.4% |
17%±28.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Shoreham 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% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 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 11% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.7%±2.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Shoreham 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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.