Compare towns
Benson vs Fairfield vs Fletcher
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%).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Fletcher has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Fairfield | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,938Highest |
1,196 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
| Benson and Fletcher 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% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Fletcher 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% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Fletcher 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% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$105,833±$9kHighest 30% above VT |
| Fletcher and Fairfield 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 |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$302,100±$37k 5% below VT |
| Fairfield and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
| Fletcher and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$4,965Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
32 minHighest 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Fletcher 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Fletcher School District |
| 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 |
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.