Compare towns
Benson vs Derby vs Westmore
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).
Westmore has the most expensive homes ($330k median).
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 | Westmore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
4,537Highest |
465Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
51.5±11.5Lowest 19% above VT |
| Benson and Derby 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% |
21.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westmore 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% |
28%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westmore 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% |
32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Westmore 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 |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
$87,188±$11kHighest 7% above VT |
| Westmore and Derby 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 |
$330,000±$137kHighest 4% above VT |
| Westmore and Benson 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 |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$1,050±$820Lowest 15% below VT |
| Benson and Derby 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 |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$5,357Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
35%±94.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Derby 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 35% above VT |
32 min 38% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Westmore 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 | — |
| High school 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.