Compare towns
Benson vs Castleton vs Jericho vs Northfield
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).
Jericho has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
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 | Jericho | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
4,453 |
5,114 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
49.7±5.1 15% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Benson and Jericho 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% |
19.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Jericho 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% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest 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% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 18% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho 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% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Jericho 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 | #6 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.