Compare towns
Castleton vs Hooksett 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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Hooksett | Benson | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
15,057Highest |
784Lowest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%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 |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
43±6.6 11% above U.S. |
| Benson and Shaftsbury 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% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest 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%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Shaftsbury 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% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 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. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$86,071±$24k 7% above U.S. |
| Hooksett 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. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% 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. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% 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 |
$6,554Highest 110% 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% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.7%±36 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% 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. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer 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. |
27 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% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Hooksett 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Hooksett School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.