Compare towns
Sheldon vs Castleton vs Underhill 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 homeowners (89%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Castleton | Underhill | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Lowest |
4,453 |
3,141 |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
43.7±5.5Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton 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% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill 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%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±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% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
$81,371±$14k about the VT average |
| Underhill and Swanton 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 |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% 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 |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Swanton 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% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
79.8% 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 |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill 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 | #2 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 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| 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.