Compare towns
Benson vs Berlin vs Clarendon
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%).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Clarendon has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | Berlin | Clarendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
2,880Highest |
2,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
50.6±2.4Lowest 17% above VT |
52.3±4.1Highest 21% above VT |
| Clarendon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Clarendon and Berlin 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% |
26.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Clarendon 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% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Berlin 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 |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$59,609±$12kLowest 27% below VT |
| Berlin 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 |
$273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
$220,900±$32kLowest 30% below VT |
| Berlin and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$1,096±$305Lowest 11% below VT |
| Berlin 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 |
$4,418Highest 12% below VT |
$3,740Lowest 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±27.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Clarendon 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% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
9.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Berlin 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mill River Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
| 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.