Compare towns
Benson vs Burke vs Castleton vs Sutton
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).
Burke has the most expensive homes ($341k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Burke | Castleton | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,317 |
4,453Highest |
790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
41.1±4.8 5% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
| Benson and Sutton 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% |
23%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Burke and Castleton 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% |
21.7%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$87,143±$17kHighest 7% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
| Burke 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 |
$340,600±$18kHighest 8% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$938±$191Lowest 24% 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 | $4,125 18% below VT |
$5,177Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Castleton 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% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Burke 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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.