Compare towns
Benson vs Tunbridge vs Castleton vs Dresden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Tunbridge | Castleton | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,253 |
4,453Highest |
551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-17.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
42.7±8.3 10% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
59±2.8Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Dresden 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Tunbridge 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% |
20.9%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dresden 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$89,464±$26kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$64,180±$9kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Tunbridge 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. |
$315,300±$23kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$191,500±$48kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,346±$128Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,066±$109Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Tunbridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$4,645Highest 49% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,138Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Tunbridge and Castleton 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% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Tunbridge 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 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | 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 |
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.