Compare towns
Sutton vs Castleton vs Benson vs Newark
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 most people working from home (18.6%).
Newark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
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 | Newark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
4,453Highest |
784 |
727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.5%Highest 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 |
41.4±6 4% 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% |
22%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Newark 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%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Sutton 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$72,929±$7k 10% 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 | $231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$229,900±$23k 27% below VT |
| Benson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 21% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,771 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest 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 | 12.4% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.8%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 |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
34 minHighest 44% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Newark 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.