Compare towns
Castleton vs Mason 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Mason | Ira | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,451 |
381Lowest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3 12% 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% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Mason 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% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$111,090±$3kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$384,000±$21kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Castleton 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest 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. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason and Benson 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mason 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.