Compare towns
Castleton vs Benson vs Hampton vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k 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 | Benson | Hampton | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
784 |
1,145 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Ira and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Benson 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| 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 32% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| 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±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 about the U.S. average |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Hampton 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 | 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 |
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.