Compare towns
Benson vs Brookfield vs Chelsea
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 affordable homes ($242k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Brookfield | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,486Highest |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
47±5.9Lowest 9% above VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Brookfield 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% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Chelsea 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% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Chelsea 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 |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
| Brookfield 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±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$260,900±$39k 18% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea and Benson 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 |
$4,560Highest 10% below VT |
$3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea 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% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
30 minLowest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.