Compare towns
Castleton vs Ogunquit vs Benson vs Poultney
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 34).
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 | Ogunquit | Benson | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,379 |
784Lowest |
3,010 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
34±5.6Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Poultney 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$72,617±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Benson 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$206,200±$18kLowest 38% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
— | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$913±$84Lowest 35% 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 |
$4,473Highest 43% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,520 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±17.3 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Poultney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.