Compare towns
Chelsea vs Castleton vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Chelsea | Castleton | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,223 |
4,453Highest |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% 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 | $260,900±$39kHighest 18% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
| Chelsea and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,762 25% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.3%±33.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 28% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Chelsea 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 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.