Compare towns
Sheldon vs Williston 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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
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 | Williston | Castleton | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
10,144Highest |
4,453 |
1,749Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
| Williston and Troy 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest 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% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
| Williston and Troy 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578 29% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 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 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.