Compare towns
Sheldon vs Castleton vs Townshend vs Swanton
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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Swanton has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Townshend | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
4,453 |
1,538Lowest |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Townshend and Swanton 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% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Swanton 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%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Swanton 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% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$81,371±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Swanton and Townshend 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 |
$287,200±$79kHighest 9% below VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Townshend and Swanton 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,257±$133 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Swanton 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 |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Castleton 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
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| 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.