Compare towns
Barton vs Benson vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k 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 | Barton | Benson | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 730 |
784Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Benson and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Ira and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
| Benson and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$4,146Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Barton 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school 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.