Compare towns
Worcester vs Castleton vs Benson vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k 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 | Worcester | Castleton | Benson | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
4,453Highest |
784 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
| Benson and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
| Windham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% 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 | $4,421 12% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 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 | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Windham 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school 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.