Compare towns
Castleton vs Dover vs Benson vs Hyde Park
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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($198k 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 | Dover | Benson | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
33,364Highest |
784Lowest |
3,000 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
41.6±3.9 7% above U.S. |
| Benson and Hyde Park 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% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hyde Park and Castleton 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Castleton 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% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$84,375±$9k 5% above U.S. |
| Dover and Hyde Park 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. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$198,400±$39kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,007±$340Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,883 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.6Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Dover School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058B · Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Lamoille Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| 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.