Compare towns
Benson vs Castleton vs Hubbardton vs Williamstown
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Hubbardton has the most people working from home (24%).
Williamstown has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
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 | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
4,453Highest |
831 |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% 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 |
42±5 about the VT average |
| 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%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Hubbardton 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%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
32.1%±10.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hubbardton 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
43.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$102,321±$18kHighest 26% above VT |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
| Hubbardton and Williamstown 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±$42kHighest 7% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
| Hubbardton and Benson 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 |
$1,659±$189 34% above VT |
| Hubbardton and Williamstown 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 |
$5,284Highest 5% above VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
55.6%±100 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Castleton 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
23 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% |
13.9%±6.6 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 | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.