Compare towns
Benson vs Berlin vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
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 | Benson | Berlin | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
2,880 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Benson and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
| Berlin and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Berlin and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Berlin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 18% below VT |
$4,418Highest 12% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest 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 | 5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Berlin 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.