Compare towns
Benson vs Braintree vs Whitingham
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 renters (19.1% rent).
Braintree has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Whitingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1%).
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 | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,026 |
1,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above VT |
| Braintree 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 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Whitingham 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Whitingham 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 |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Braintree 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 |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$262,300±$30kHighest 17% below VT |
| Whitingham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$840±$405 32% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Benson and Braintree 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 |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Benson 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% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Benson 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.