Compare towns
Benson vs Castleton vs Hubbardton vs Ripton
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).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Hubbardton has the most people working from home (24%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Hubbardton | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
4,453Highest |
831 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
48±13.6 11% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Benson and Hubbardton 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%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Hubbardton 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
32.1%±10.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Hubbardton and Ripton 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
43.2% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Ripton 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±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$102,321±$18k 26% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Hubbardton 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±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$293,800±$42k 7% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Hubbardton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,708±$259Highest 38% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 18% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,284Highest 5% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
55.6%±100 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Hubbardton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24%±17.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Hubbardton 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school 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.