Compare towns
Castleton vs Calais 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Calais | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,713 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson and Calais 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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Castleton 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% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Calais 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Calais and Benson 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 |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
| Calais and Castleton 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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 |
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.