Compare towns
Benson vs Dummerston vs Northfield vs Waterville
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 oldest population (median age 51.9).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Northfield | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
2,090 |
5,920Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Waterville 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%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Dummerston and Benson 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Benson 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.