Compare towns
Benson vs Fairlee 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%).
Fairlee has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Fairlee | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
1,066Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
49.1±8.2Lowest 14% above VT |
| Fairlee and Benson 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Benson 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% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Benson and Fairlee 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 |
$274,200±$39kHighest 13% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Fairlee 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 |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% 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 |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Benson 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% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Fairlee 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.