Compare towns
Benson vs Castleton vs Gorham vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Gorham | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
4,453 |
18,300Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Ira and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Gorham Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gorham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.