Compare towns
Benson vs Enosburgh vs Vernon 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 most people working from home (18.6%).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Enosburgh | Vernon | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
2,804Highest |
2,709 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
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%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Enosburgh 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% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Enosburgh 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 |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Vernon 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 |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Vernon 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 |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
$3,624Lowest 28% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Enosburgh 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% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
32 min 36% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Enosburgh 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 | — | #26 of 70 in VT | #30 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Vernon School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.