Compare towns

Baltimore vs Windsor vs Waterville vs Benson

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Baltimore has the highest household income ($108k).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
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.

MeasureBaltimoreWindsorWatervilleBenson
People
Population
361Lowest
3,554Highest
680
784
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+0.2%
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-7.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.2±10.3
19% above VT
44.8±6.5Lowest
4% above VT
49.1±8.2
14% above VT
51.9±9.4Highest
20% above VT
Benson and Baltimore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
8.9%±6.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19.5%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
20.4%±8.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.5%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
Waterville and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.7%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
29.7%±6.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
14.4%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
26.9%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
Windsor 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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
39.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
32.1%
VT: 43.8%
32.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±2.7
VT: 7%
0.7%±0.8Lowest
VT: 7%
5.3%±3.3
VT: 7%
7%±5.8Highest
VT: 7%
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
32% above VT
$52,484±$11kLowest
35% below VT
$71,250±$27k
12% below VT
$78,625±$8k
3% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$219,400±$27k
31% below VT
$207,500±$31kLowest
34% below VT
$236,300±$15k
25% 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 —
$1,026±$89Lowest
17% below VT
$1,110±$93
10% below VT
$1,113±$170Highest
10% below VT
Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,329
14% below VT
$5,209Highest
3% above VT
$3,957Lowest
21% below VT
$4,125
18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
26.7%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
31.5%±17
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±27.2
VT: 48.4%
53.4%±35.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
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
VT: 10.1%
7.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.9%
VT: 10.1%
5.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
57.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79.9%
VT: 73.2%
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
1945Lowest
31 yrs older than VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
11% below VT
23 min
3% below VT
38 minHighest
60% above VT
32 min
35% above VT
Work from home
9.8%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
10.3%±5
VT: 16.9%
8.5%±3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
18.6%±5.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
Benson and Windsor 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 — #61 of 70 in VT — —
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
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 12 photos → 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.