Compare towns
Athens vs Benson vs Newbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Benson has the most homeowners (80.9%).
Newbury has the most expensive homes ($276k 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 | Athens | Benson | Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431 |
784Highest |
393Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
48.3±14 12% above VT |
| Benson and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Newbury and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±9.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Newbury and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
38.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±6.5 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$76,250±$23k 6% below VT |
| Benson and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$275,900±$28kHighest 13% below VT |
| Newbury and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,259±$401Highest about the VT average |
| Newbury and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,943Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
51%±25.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
30 minLowest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
14.3%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.