Compare towns
Sheldon vs Vernon vs Castleton vs Troy
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 people working from home (13%).
Vernon has the most expensive homes ($285k median).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
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.
| Measure | Sheldon | Vernon | Castleton | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
2,709 |
4,453Highest |
1,749Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.5±5.7Highest 3% above VT |
| Troy and Vernon 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% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon 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% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
| Troy and Vernon 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 |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
| Vernon and Sheldon 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 |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% 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 |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Troy 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 | — | #30 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Vernon School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Troy 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.