Compare towns
Castleton vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Lancaster | Ira | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
3,216 |
381Lowest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.5±6.9 17% 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%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Lancaster 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% |
30.1%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% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest 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. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% 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. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% 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. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 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 | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,226Highest 35% 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% |
36.1%±17Lowest 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 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 13% 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% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Lancaster 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | White Mountains Regional School District | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school 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.