Compare towns
Benson vs Berlin 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%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Berlin | Waterville | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
2,880Highest |
680Lowest |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
49.1±8.2Lowest 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% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Shoreham 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% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Berlin 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% |
28.5%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% |
3.9%±2.9 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 |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$93,654±$23kHighest 15% above VT |
| Shoreham and Berlin 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±$31k 14% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$316,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Shoreham and Berlin 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±$171 5% below VT |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,306±$335Highest 6% above VT |
| Shoreham and Berlin 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 |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,713Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Waterville 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% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Shoreham 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 | 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 | 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.