Compare towns
Castleton vs Howard 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).
Howard has the most affordable homes ($128k median).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
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 | Howard | Ira | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,254 |
381Lowest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.1±3.1 26% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
| Ira and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Howard 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% |
24.6%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
14.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$73,906±$5k 8% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Benson and Howard 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. |
$128,100±$25kLowest 61% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Ira and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$775±$242Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$942±$52 33% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 about the U.S. average |
$2,605Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$4,146Highest 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% |
7.9%±64.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% 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. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.6%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school 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.