Compare towns
Castleton vs Baltimore vs Benson vs Hyde Park
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Baltimore has the highest household income ($108k).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($198k 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 | Castleton | Baltimore | Benson | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
361Lowest |
784 |
3,000 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.2±10.3 19% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
41.6±3.9 3% below VT |
| Benson and Baltimore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
8.9%±6.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Hyde Park and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.7%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$107,500±$16kHighest 32% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$84,375±$9k 4% above VT |
| Baltimore and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$219,400±$27k 31% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$198,400±$39kLowest 37% below VT |
| Benson and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,007±$340Lowest 18% below VT |
| Castleton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,329Highest 14% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,883 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.7%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.6 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 | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Baltimore 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 | — | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058B · Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Lamoille Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.