Compare towns
Baltimore vs Benson vs Braintree vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Baltimore has the highest household income ($108k).
Benson has the most expensive homes ($242k median).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
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 | Baltimore | Benson | Braintree | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 361Lowest |
784 |
1,026 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.2±10.3 19% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.9%±6.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.7 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,500±$16kHighest 32% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,400±$27k 31% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| Benson and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
| Castleton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,329Highest 14% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Benson 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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.