Compare towns
Benson vs Cornwall vs West Windsor vs Whiting
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 people working from home (24.4%).
West Windsor has the oldest population (median age 54).
Whiting has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | West Windsor | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,208Highest |
1,171 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
| West Windsor 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% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±10 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and West Windsor 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% |
25.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$108,750±$18k 34% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
| Cornwall and West Windsor 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 |
$393,500±$41k 24% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
| Cornwall and West Windsor 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 |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,100±$217Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
| Whiting and Cornwall 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 |
$5,860 16% above VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Whiting 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% |
3.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 min 20% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest 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 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.