Compare towns
Benson vs Cornwall vs Waterville
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).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% 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 | Cornwall | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
1,208Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
49.1±8.2Lowest 14% above VT |
| Benson and Cornwall 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% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Cornwall 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
$71,250±$27kLowest 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±$26k 24% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% 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 | $4,125 18% below VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.