Compare towns
Benson vs Brookfield vs Castleton vs Waterville
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 oldest population (median age 51.9).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Brookfield | Castleton | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,486 |
4,453Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Benson 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% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Brookfield 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 |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% 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 | $4,125 18% below VT |
$4,560Highest 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 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% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
37 min 55% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None 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.