Compare towns
Sutton vs Castleton vs Benson vs Burke
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).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Burke has the most expensive homes ($341k median).
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 | Sutton | Castleton | Benson | Burke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
4,453Highest |
784Lowest |
1,317 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
41.1±4.8 5% below VT |
| Benson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Burke and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$87,143±$17kHighest 7% above VT |
| Burke and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$340,600±$18kHighest 8% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$938±$191Lowest 24% 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 | $3,975 21% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$5,177Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Burke 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.