Compare towns
Baltimore vs Unity vs Waterville vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Baltimore has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Unity has the most expensive homes ($276k median).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
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 | Baltimore | Unity | Waterville | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 361Lowest |
1,375Highest |
680 |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±10.3 32% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Lowest 26% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
| Unity and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.9%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,500±$16kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Baltimore and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,400±$27kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Unity and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Unity and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,329 39% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Baltimore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Unity School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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 |
U.S. 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.