Compare towns

Bainbridge vs Benson vs Castleton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bainbridge has the most affordable homes ($151k median).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Castleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.5%).

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.

MeasureBainbridgeBensonCastleton
People
Population
3,017
784Lowest
4,453Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-7.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.2±7.6
24% above U.S.
51.9±9.4Highest
33% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
Benson and Bainbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.8%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.5%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
Bainbridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.2%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Benson and Bainbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7%±5.8
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$60,391±$8kLowest
25% below U.S.
$78,625±$8kHighest
about the U.S. average
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
Benson and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$150,500±$32kLowest
55% below U.S.
$242,000±$26kHighest
27% below U.S.
$224,800±$71k
32% below U.S.
Benson and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$767±$237Lowest
46% below U.S.
$1,113±$170
21% below U.S.
$1,137±$195Highest
20% below U.S.
Castleton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,712
19% above U.S.
$4,125Highest
32% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.1%±12Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.4%±35.2
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
16% below U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
Work from home
8.5%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #332 of 484 in NY — #39 of 70 in VT
School district BAINBRIDGE-GUILFORD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town BAINBRIDGE-GUILFORD HIGH SCHOOL None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.