Compare towns
Sheldon vs Randolph vs Castleton vs Proctor
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 expensive homes ($272k median).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Randolph | Castleton | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
2,007 |
4,453Highest |
1,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
50.5±7.7Highest 17% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
| Randolph and Proctor 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% |
11%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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% |
24.2%±4.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Proctor 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% |
42.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.3%±4.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$75,069±$11k 8% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
| Sheldon and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$235,400±$25k 26% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
| Sheldon and Randolph 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 |
$1,095±$198 11% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
| Sheldon and Castleton 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 |
$4,507Highest 11% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.3%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Randolph 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% |
14.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
53.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1942 34 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Randolph 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.