Compare towns
Barnet vs Benson vs Peacham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Peacham has the most people working from home (24.2%).
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 | Barnet | Benson | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
784Lowest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3Lowest 11% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
| Benson and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
| Peacham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$302,000±$64kHighest 5% below VT |
| Peacham and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
| Benson and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 11% below VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,605Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Peacham and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 17% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Peacham School District |
| 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.