Compare towns
Benson vs Dummerston vs Plainfield 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 affordable homes ($242k median).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Chelsea has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Plainfield | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
2,090Highest |
1,314 |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% 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% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Dummerston 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%±3 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 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 |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% 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±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$260,900±$39k 18% below VT |
| Dummerston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea and Dummerston 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 |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Chelsea 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Benson 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 | — | 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 | 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.