Compare towns
Waterville vs Castleton vs Enosburgh vs Benson
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).
Enosburgh has the most renters (24.3% rent).
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 | Waterville | Castleton | Enosburgh | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,804 |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
40.6±3.9 6% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Enosburgh and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% 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 | $236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% 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 | $3,957 21% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 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 | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
32 min 36% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Enosburgh 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 | #26 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.