Compare towns
Benson vs Barton vs Waterville vs Shoreham
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 most people working from home (18.6%).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Shoreham has the most expensive homes ($316k 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 | Benson | Barton | Waterville | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
730 |
680Lowest |
1,269Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
51.8±7.2 20% above VT |
| Benson and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
36.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest 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 | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$93,654±$23kHighest 15% above VT |
| Shoreham and Benson 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 |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$316,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,306±$335Highest 6% above VT |
| Shoreham and Benson 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 |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$4,713Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest 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 | 5.4% VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2 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 | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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 | 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.