Compare towns
Castleton vs Ira vs Whitehall 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
Whitehall has the most affordable homes ($102k 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 | Ira | Whitehall | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
381Lowest |
2,690 |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
36.8±4.8Lowest 5% below 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%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Whitehall 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% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.9Lowest 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% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$47,683±$8kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
| 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 32% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$102,000±$9kLowest 69% 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. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$975±$96 31% 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 | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,178 about the U.S. average |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.6%±18.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Whitehall 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% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
29.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
0.6%±0.9Lowest 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.