Compare towns

Sheldon vs Hampton vs Castleton vs Troy

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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.

MeasureSheldonHamptonCastletonTroy
People
Population
2,267
1,145Lowest
4,453Highest
1,749
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±3.5
5% above U.S.
43.1±14.7
11% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.5±5.7Highest
14% above U.S.
Troy and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.7%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.9%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Sheldon and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
12.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Castleton and Hampton 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
U.S.: 35.7%
15.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,533±$25k
about the U.S. average
$73,796±$8kLowest
9% below U.S.
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$87,938±$11kHighest
9% above U.S.
Troy 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±$61kHighest
18% below U.S.
$166,800±$10kLowest
50% below U.S.
$224,800±$71k
32% below U.S.
$233,200±$21k
30% below U.S.
Sheldon and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,286±$379Highest
9% below U.S.
$1,264±$375
11% below U.S.
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$646±$323Lowest
54% below U.S.
Sheldon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,578
15% above U.S.
$3,007Lowest
4% below U.S.
$3,167
about the U.S. average
$3,644Highest
17% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
13.2%±25.1
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.8%±26.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
5% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
Work from home
13%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±8.4
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Sheldon and Hampton 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 Troy School District
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 None yet

U.S. 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.