Compare towns
Benson vs Castleton vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Hancock 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%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Benson 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%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock 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% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$95,208±$15kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Hancock 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 27% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$436,700±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,208±$650Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Hancock 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 |
$6,884Highest 121% 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% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Hancock 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.