Compare towns
Benson vs Castleton vs Windham 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
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Windham | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
4,453 |
19,188Highest |
551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%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 |
41.8±1.8 7% 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%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Castleton 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%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest 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% |
44.2%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% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$64,180±$9kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above 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. |
$1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,066±$109Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Windham and Castleton 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. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,938 26% 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%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest 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% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 14 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.