Compare towns
Benson vs Guildhall vs West Haven
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%).
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
West Haven has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Guildhall | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Highest |
371 |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
42.6±7.8Lowest about the VT average |
54±10.5Highest 25% above VT |
| West Haven and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±7.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±13.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Guildhall and West Haven 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% |
26.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Haven 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% |
33.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.1%±3.1 VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Guildhall 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 |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above VT |
$85,250±$29k 5% above VT |
| Guildhall and West Haven 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 |
$321,200±$62kHighest about the VT average |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
| Guildhall and West Haven 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 |
$850±$717Lowest 31% below VT |
— |
| Benson and Guildhall 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 |
$4,625Highest 8% below VT |
$4,485 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
75%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Guildhall 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% |
11.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and West Haven 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.