Compare towns
Benson vs Orwell vs Putnam vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Orwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
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 | Orwell | Putnam | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,294 |
540Lowest |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell 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% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Orwell and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Benson 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. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Orwell 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 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.