Compare towns
Belvidere vs Benson vs Stratton vs Montgomery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belvidere has the most homeowners (86.1%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Belvidere | Benson | Stratton | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 422Lowest |
784 |
532 |
1,047Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.5 6% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
| Benson and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$18k about the VT average |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
| Stratton and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $239,200±$51kLowest 24% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
| Stratton and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
| Belvidere and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$4,326 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±53.8 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
32 minLowest 35% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
37 min 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.