Compare towns
Castleton vs Beecher Falls vs Ira vs Benson
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).
Beecher Falls has the most affordable homes ($98k median).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Beecher Falls | Ira | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
67Lowest |
381 |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | — | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
57.5±2.6Highest 33% above VT |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Beecher Falls and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
9%±40.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
32.8%±43.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Beecher Falls and Ira 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
0%±21.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$26,042±$24kLowest 68% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
| Benson and Castleton 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 |
$98,100±$36kLowest 69% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Ira and Benson 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 |
— | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% 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 | $3,167 37% below VT |
$2,438Lowest 52% below VT |
$4,146Highest 18% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
— | 36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 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% VT: 10.1% |
10.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1950Lowest 26 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
— | 28 min 20% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
0%±27.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school 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.