Compare towns
Benson vs Braintree vs Jericho vs West Haven
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Jericho has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
West Haven has the shortest commute (25 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 | Braintree | Jericho | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,026 |
5,114Highest |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
49.7±5.1Lowest 15% above VT |
54±10.5 25% above VT |
| Braintree and West Haven 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% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±13.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Jericho and West Haven 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% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and West Haven 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% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6 VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$85,250±$29k 5% above VT |
| Jericho and West Haven 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 |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 18% below VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$4,485 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho 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% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jericho and Braintree 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 | — | — | #6 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0 |
— |
| 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.