Compare towns
Benson vs Derby vs Chelsea
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%).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Derby | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
4,537Highest |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
51.6±2.1Lowest 20% above VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
| Chelsea 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% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea and Derby 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% |
36.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Chelsea 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 |
$80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
| Derby 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 |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
$260,900±$39kHighest 18% below VT |
| Chelsea and Benson 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 |
$1,096±$118Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$3,762 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea 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% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
30 minLowest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #52 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| 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.