Compare towns
Barton vs Benson vs Castleton vs North Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
North Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
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 | Barton | Benson | Castleton | North Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
784 |
4,453Highest |
506Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
34.1±4.4Lowest 21% below VT |
| Benson and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
31.6%±9.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| North Troy and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
16%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$50,417±$5k 38% below VT |
| Benson and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30k 54% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$121,100±$20kLowest 62% 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 | $761±$150 38% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$597±$179Lowest 52% 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 | $3,185 37% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$2,641Lowest 48% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±30.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
21.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
63.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1957 19 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
50 minHighest 113% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.6%±8.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and North Troy 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school 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.