Compare towns
Castleton vs Richmond 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).
Richmond has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Richmond | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
4,159 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond 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 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Richmond 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±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— | $1,113±$170Lowest 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 |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond 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 | #5 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | 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 |
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.