Compare towns
Benson vs Castleton vs Sutton vs Vershire
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).
Sutton has the most homeowners (85%).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k 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 | Sutton | Vershire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
4,453Highest |
790 |
842 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-7.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
45.7±9.3 6% above VT |
| Benson and Sutton 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% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Vershire 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%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$71,618±$12k 12% below VT |
| 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 24% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$209,100±$55kLowest 34% below VT |
| Benson and Sutton 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±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— | $1,117±$80 9% below VT |
| Castleton and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 18% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$4,640Highest 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.8%±24.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Vershire 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 VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Vershire 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — |
| 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 |
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.