Compare towns
Benson vs Middlesex vs Castleton vs Stockbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Stockbridge has the oldest population (median age 55.3).
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 | Middlesex | Castleton | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,943 |
4,453Highest |
791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
55.3±5.3Highest 28% above VT |
| Stockbridge 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
27.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Stockbridge 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
35% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$77,109±$12k 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$283,500±$26k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,140±$126 8% below VT |
| Middlesex and Stockbridge 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,488 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.3%±22 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.6%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Stockbridge and Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None 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.