Compare towns
Vernon vs Castleton vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
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 | Vernon | Castleton | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,709 |
4,453Highest |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4Highest about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Vernon and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest 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+ | 22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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+ | 26.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Vernon and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% 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 | $1,023±$214Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Vernon 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 | Vernon School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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 |
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.