Compare towns
Castleton vs Windsor 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).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
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 | Windsor | Ira | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
3,554 |
381Lowest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.8±6.5 4% 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%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Castleton 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor 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% |
39.7%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% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% 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±$71k 29% below VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Ira and Benson 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 |
$1,026±$89 17% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 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 |
$5,209Highest 3% above VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 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% VT: 10.1% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Windsor 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.