Compare towns
Benson vs Castleton vs Nanticoke vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Nanticoke has the most affordable homes ($157k median).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Nanticoke | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
4,453Highest |
1,683 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±6.4 7% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Nanticoke and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Nanticoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$69,432±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
| Benson and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$157,100±$32kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$941±$314Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% 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 | $4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,171 about the U.S. average |
$3,957 27% 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% |
57.4%±37.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Nanticoke 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% |
14.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
77%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3 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 | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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 |
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.