Compare towns
Vershire vs Castleton vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Vershire | Castleton | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 842Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±9.3 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
| Chelsea and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,618±$12k 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
| Castleton and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,100±$55kLowest 34% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$260,900±$39kHighest 18% below VT |
| Chelsea and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,117±$80Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,640Highest 8% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,762 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±24.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Vershire and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Chelsea and Vershire 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school 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.