Compare towns
Benson vs Danby vs Fairlee
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 people working from home (18.6%).
Danby has the most homeowners (89.3%).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Danby | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,133Highest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Lowest 20% above VT |
52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
| Fairlee and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Danby 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% |
24.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
34.8% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
| Benson and Danby 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 |
$272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$274,200±$39kHighest 13% below VT |
| Fairlee and Danby 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 |
$794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Benson and Fairlee 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 |
$4,543 10% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
9.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Fairlee 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| 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.