Compare towns
Benson vs Castleton vs Ira vs Ogunquit
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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Ogunquit has the most expensive homes ($876k median).
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 | Ira | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
4,453Highest |
381Lowest |
1,379 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Ira 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% |
10.5%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest 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% |
28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%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% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Castleton and Benson 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 |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
$4,473Highest 43% 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% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest 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% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.