Compare towns
Benson vs Castleton vs Hyde Park
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 most people working from home (18.6%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hyde Park has the most kids (22.6% 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 | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
4,453Highest |
513Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.6±10.1 about the VT average |
| Benson and Hyde Park 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% |
22.6%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Hyde Park 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% |
16.4%±3.3Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
41%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$89,946±$10kHighest 11% above VT |
| Hyde Park 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±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$221,800±$57kLowest 30% below VT |
| Benson and Castleton 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 |
$1,306±$285Highest 6% above VT |
| Hyde Park and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,893 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±47.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.9%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.