Compare towns
Benson vs Danby vs Plainfield vs West Haven
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%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
West Haven has the highest household income ($85k).
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 | Plainfield | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,133 |
1,314Highest |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
54±10.5Highest 25% above VT |
| West Haven and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±13.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| West Haven 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% |
24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Haven 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% |
34.8% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Danby 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 |
$77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$85,250±$29kHighest 5% above VT |
| West Haven 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 |
$272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
| Plainfield and Danby 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 |
$794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
— |
| Plainfield 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 |
$4,543 10% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,485 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Plainfield 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.