Compare towns
Benson vs Fair Haven vs Northfield
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%).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k 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 | Fair Haven | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
2,724 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Benson and Fair Haven 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% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Benson 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% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Northfield 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% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Benson and Northfield 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 |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
| Northfield 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 |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Benson and Northfield 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 |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Northfield 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.