Compare towns
Benson vs Fair Haven vs Williston
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).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
2,724 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Benson and Williston 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% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Fair Haven 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Williston 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 |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 18% below VT |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Fair Haven 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% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.