Compare towns
Hampton vs Benson vs Castleton vs Smithville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Smithville has the most homeowners (81.7%).
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 | Hampton | Benson | Castleton | Smithville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145 |
784Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,525 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±3.2 11% above U.S. |
| Benson and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$70,433±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Benson and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$173,200±$42k 48% below U.S. |
| Benson and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$889±$186Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$4,254Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±31.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Hampton 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.