Compare towns
Castleton vs Gilman vs Fair Haven 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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Gilman has the most affordable homes ($99k median).
Fair Haven has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Gilman | Fair Haven | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
165Lowest |
2,724 |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | +0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
56.2±6Highest 30% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Gilman and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
0%±17.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven 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 VT: 21.4% |
29.1%±16.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Gilman 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 VT: 43.8% |
22.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.2%±7.8 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$57,788±$32kLowest 29% below VT |
$62,404±$16k 23% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
| 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 29% below VT |
$98,500±$46kLowest 69% below VT |
$176,500±$14k 44% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
| Benson and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,279±$700Highest 4% above VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Gilman and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 37% below VT |
$2,806Lowest 44% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
73.9%±69.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Gilman and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
61%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
— | 31 min 31% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
0%±13.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.