Compare towns
Benson vs Brookfield vs Sutton vs Waterville
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 oldest population (median age 51.9).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Brookfield | Sutton | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,486 |
2,239Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
47±5.9Lowest 21% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 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 |
$98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Brookfield 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. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 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% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
37 min 38% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
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| 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.