Compare towns
Benson vs Putnam vs Castleton vs Chelsea
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%).
Putnam has the most homeowners (95.9%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Putnam | Castleton | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
540Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±12.1Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Chelsea and Putnam 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% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chelsea 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% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Chelsea 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% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$65,913±$13kLowest 18% 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. |
$266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$260,900±$39k 22% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
— | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,524±$467Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Chelsea 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. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,762 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.3%±33.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Chelsea 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Chelsea 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 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| 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 |
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.