Compare towns
Benson vs Sheldon vs Castleton vs West Haven
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 most people working from home (18.6%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
West Haven has the highest household income ($85k).
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 | Sheldon | Castleton | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
2,267 |
4,453Highest |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
54±10.5Highest 25% above VT |
| West Haven 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±13.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Haven 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$85,250±$29kHighest 5% above VT |
| West Haven 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 24% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
| Sheldon and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
— |
| Sheldon 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,485Highest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Sheldon 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school 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.