Compare towns
Benson vs Brighton vs Windsor vs Waterville
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%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
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 | Brighton | Windsor | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,167 |
2,060Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
44.6±12.3Lowest 3% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±8.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Waterville 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% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±8Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Brighton 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% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 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±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$51,197±$4k 37% below VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$170,300±$22k 46% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,002±$107 19% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.4%±20Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton 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% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
51.6% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Brighton 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 | — | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Brighton School District | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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 |
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.