Compare towns
Benson vs Castleton vs Plainfield vs Dresden
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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Plainfield | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
4,453Highest |
1,314 |
551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-17.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
59±2.8Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Dresden and Benson 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% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1Lowest 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% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dresden 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$64,180±$9kLowest 21% 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±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$191,500±$48kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,066±$109Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Castleton 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. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,138Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Plainfield 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 | — | — |
| 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.