Compare towns
Benson vs Halifax vs Whitingham
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).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Halifax | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
847 |
1,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
| Benson and Whitingham 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%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Whitingham 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% |
22.6%±7.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Whitingham 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 |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
| Benson and Whitingham 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 |
$267,500±$21kHighest 16% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
| Halifax and Whitingham 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 |
$875±$154 29% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Benson and Halifax 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 |
$4,991 about the VT average |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Halifax 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 35% above VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Benson 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 | Halifax School District | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.