Compare towns
Barnard vs Benson vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Barnard | Benson | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Highest |
784 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% 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 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 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 | $97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Barnard and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 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 | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 21% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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 |
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.