Compare towns
Sutton vs Sheldon vs Castleton vs Burke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 46.6).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.5%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Burke has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Sutton | Sheldon | Castleton | Burke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790Lowest |
2,267 |
4,453Highest |
1,317 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7Highest 8% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
41.1±4.8 5% below VT |
| Sutton and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
23%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Burke and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$87,143±$17kHighest 7% above VT |
| Burke and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$340,600±$18kHighest 8% above VT |
| Burke 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$938±$191Lowest 24% 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 | $3,975 21% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,177Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Burke 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 | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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.