Compare towns
Barnard vs Benson vs Westford
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 most affordable homes ($242k median).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211 |
784Lowest |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Benson and Westford 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% |
16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Westford and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
| Westford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
| Westford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 20% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 21% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Westford 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 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.