Compare towns
Castleton vs Hampton vs Ira vs Benson
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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Ira | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
16,426Highest |
381Lowest |
784 |
| 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% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Benson 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% |
28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Ira 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% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Hampton 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 32% below U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% 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% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% 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. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 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 | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | — | 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.