Compare towns
Castleton vs Benson vs Williston vs St. Albans
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).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
St. Albans has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.5%).
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 | Williston | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
784Lowest |
10,144Highest |
7,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+16.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
41.3±2.8 4% below VT |
| Benson and Williston 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% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and St. Albans 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% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±4.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$90,060±$19k 11% above VT |
| Williston and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$363,300±$22k 15% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,460±$152 18% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,689 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.6%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| St. Albans and Castleton 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% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.7%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| 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 |
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.