Compare towns
Benson vs Jericho vs Castleton vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jericho has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Jericho | Castleton | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
5,114Highest |
4,453 |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
49.7±5.1 15% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea 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% VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$260,900±$39k 18% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,524±$467 24% above VT |
| Jericho and Chelsea 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 |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,762 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2 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% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8 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 | — | #6 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— | — |
| 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.