Compare towns
Barnet 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
Barnet has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
784 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3Lowest 11% above VT |
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 | 21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest 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 | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24kHighest 22% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Barnet and Benson 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 |
$1,110±$93 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 | $4,489Highest 11% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 17% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Barnet 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 | 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.