Compare towns
Castleton vs Hampton vs Benson vs Shaftsbury
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).
Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Benson | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
16,426Highest |
784Lowest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
43±6.6 11% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
26.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shaftsbury 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$86,071±$24k 7% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$267,300±$24k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,079±$54Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$4,015 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.7%±36Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Hampton 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | — | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— | — |
| 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.