Compare towns
Sutton vs Sheldon vs Castleton vs Leicester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.5%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Leicester has the most expensive homes ($310k 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 | Sutton | Sheldon | Castleton | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790Lowest |
2,267 |
4,453Highest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-10% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
48.8±3.8Highest 13% above VT |
| Leicester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Castleton 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% |
24.5%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Leicester 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$70,417±$30kLowest 13% below VT |
| Sheldon and Castleton 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 |
$309,700±$107kHighest about the VT average |
| Leicester 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 |
$1,098±$300Lowest 11% 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 | $3,975Highest 21% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,822 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±40.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Sutton 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% |
11.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.5% 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 |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Leicester 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 | — |
| 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 |
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.