Compare towns
Benson vs Stockbridge 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 highest household income ($79k).
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (28.6%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Stockbridge | Castleton | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
791 |
4,453Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
55.3±5.3Highest 28% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
49.1±8.2 14% 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% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville 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% |
27.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
35% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$77,109±$12k 5% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Benson and Stockbridge 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 |
$283,500±$26kHighest 10% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Stockbridge and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,140±$126Highest 8% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Stockbridge 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 |
$4,488Highest 11% below 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% |
53.3%±22 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest 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% |
3.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr 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% |
28.6%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Stockbridge 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | 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.