Compare towns
Benson vs Fairfield vs Wallingford
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%).
Wallingford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
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 | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,938 |
2,286Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| Benson and Wallingford 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% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Wallingford 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% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Wallingford 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% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest 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±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Wallingford 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 |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
| Fairfield and Wallingford 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 |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Benson and Fairfield 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 |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Fairfield 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| 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.