Compare towns
Sandgate vs Benson vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Benson has the most expensive homes ($242k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Sandgate | Benson | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
784 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Sandgate and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% 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 | $193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| Benson and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% 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 | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest 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 | 9.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate 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 |
| 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 |
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.