Compare towns
Benson vs Castleton vs Fair Haven vs Putney
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).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k median).
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 | Castleton | Fair Haven | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,724 |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Benson and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Castleton 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Putney 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 |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
| Putney and Benson 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 |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$830±$116 33% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Putney 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Putney 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.