Compare towns
Benson vs Waterville vs Esperance
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Esperance has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Benson | Waterville | Esperance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271 |
680Highest |
248Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7Highest 30% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
48.6±11.9Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±9.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.7%±11Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,375±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
$73,333±$6kHighest 9% below U.S. |
| Esperance and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,100±$15k 31% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$191,700±$46kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
$4,276Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Esperance and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Esperance and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.