Compare towns

Benson vs Burke vs Wheelock

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).
Burke has the most expensive homes ($341k median).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k 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.

MeasureBensonBurkeWheelock
People
Population
784
1,317Highest
717Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-6.4%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.9±9.4Highest
20% above VT
41.1±4.8Lowest
5% below VT
51±5.6
18% above VT
Benson and Wheelock 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%
23%±4Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±3.5
VT: 17.9%
Burke and Wheelock 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%
21.7%±2.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.4%±4.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
Wheelock 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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
41.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
34.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7%±5.8Highest
VT: 7%
3.6%±2.3
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Benson and Burke 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
$87,143±$17kHighest
7% above VT
$64,792±$20kLowest
20% below VT
Burke 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
$340,600±$18kHighest
8% above VT
$189,600±$37kLowest
40% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,113±$170Highest
10% below VT
$938±$191Lowest
24% below VT
—
Benson and Burke 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
$5,177Highest
about the VT average
$2,937Lowest
42% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.4%±35.2
VT: 48.4%
74.6%±31Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Burke 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%
10%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.6%
VT: 73.2%
97.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
1989Highest
13 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
35% above VT
25 minLowest
8% above VT
28 min
17% above VT
Work from home
18.6%±5.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±6.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
21.1%±16
VT: 16.9%
Burke and Wheelock 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 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
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.