Compare towns
Castleton vs Leyden vs Fair Haven 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).
Leyden has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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 | Leyden | Fair Haven | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,661 |
2,724 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.6±3.8 12% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Benson and Leyden 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% |
20.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Leyden and Fair Haven 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% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Castleton 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$59,474±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16k 23% 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. |
$173,100±$23kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kHighest 27% below U.S. |
| Benson and Castleton 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. |
$721±$37Lowest 49% below U.S. |
$830±$116 41% 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 |
$2,412Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
$4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±15.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Leyden 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% |
13.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 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. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Leyden 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.