Compare towns
Benson vs Dummerston vs Monkton
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).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Monkton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Dummerston | Monkton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
2,090Highest |
1,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
47.1±5.4 9% above VT |
| Benson and Monkton 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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Monkton 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±2.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
50% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Monkton 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 |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$119,688±$28kHighest 47% above VT |
| Monkton and Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$379,900±$18kHighest 20% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,301±$120 5% above VT |
| Dummerston and Monkton 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,887Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±64Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Monkton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±4.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Monkton and Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| 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.