Compare towns
Castleton vs Bow vs Benson vs St. Albans
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).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Bow | Benson | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
8,335Highest |
784Lowest |
7,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
41.3±2.8 6% above U.S. |
| Benson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±4.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$90,060±$19k 12% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$363,300±$22k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,460±$152 3% above U.S. |
| Bow and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$4,689 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.6%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | — | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Bow School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.