Compare towns
Benson vs Bleecker vs Waterville vs Shoreham
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 most people working from home (18.6%).
Bleecker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
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 | Bleecker | Waterville | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
563Lowest |
680 |
1,269Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
59.7±2.9Highest 53% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Lowest 26% above U.S. |
51.8±7.2 33% above U.S. |
| Bleecker 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 U.S.: 22% |
8.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$74,732±$21k 7% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$93,654±$23kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| 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 27% below U.S. |
$221,100±$61kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$316,400±$34kHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$950±$286Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$1,306±$335Highest 8% below U.S. |
| 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 32% above U.S. |
$3,893Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
$4,713Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±48.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Shoreham 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 | — | 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 |
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.