Compare towns
Benson vs Cabot vs Ira
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).
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Cabot | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
1,579Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira 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% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira 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% |
44.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Ira 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 |
$77,031±$16k 5% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Benson and Cabot 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 |
$268,500±$77k 15% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Ira and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Cabot and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,639Highest 8% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Cabot 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% |
9% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
30 min 27% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cabot 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.