Compare towns
Benson vs Chelsea vs Cornwall
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).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Chelsea | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,223Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
50.4±4.6Lowest 17% 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% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Cornwall 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% |
29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea 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% VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest 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 |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
| Cornwall 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 |
$260,900±$39k 18% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
| Chelsea and Cornwall 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 |
$3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall 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 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None 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.