Compare towns
Benson vs Athens vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the highest household income ($79k).
Athens has the most renters (26.3% rent).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Athens | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
431Lowest |
1,223Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$68,438±$30k 16% below VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
| Benson and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$260,900±$39kHighest 18% below VT |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 18% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
30 minLowest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Benson 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 | — | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school 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.