Compare towns
Benson vs Middlesex vs Castleton vs Waterville
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 oldest population (median age 51.9).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Waterville has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,943 |
4,453Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Waterville 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Castleton 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Middlesex and Castleton 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 |
$3,957 21% 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% |
44.6%±27.2 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% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.