Compare towns
Benson vs Cavendish vs Whitingham
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 oldest population (median age 51.9).
Cavendish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Cavendish | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,242 |
1,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
| Benson and Whitingham 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%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham and Cavendish 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% |
23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham 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% |
39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Cavendish 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 |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Cavendish 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 |
$285,100±$40kHighest 10% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
| Cavendish and Whitingham 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 |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Benson and Cavendish 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 |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Cavendish 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.