Compare towns
Castleton vs Montgomery vs Ira vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Montgomery has the most expensive homes ($323k median).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Montgomery | Ira | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,047 |
381Lowest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
| 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±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Montgomery and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| 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 37% below VT |
$4,326Highest 14% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Montgomery 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | 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 |
VT 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.