Compare towns
Benson vs Cornwall 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).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Cornwall | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
1,208Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
50.4±4.6Lowest 17% above 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% |
18.7%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cornwall and Benson 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% |
25.7%±6.1Lowest 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Cornwall 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 |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below 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 |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Cornwall 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 |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Benson 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% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| 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.