Compare towns
Benson vs Hampton vs Westmore vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Westmore has the most expensive homes ($330k median).
Waterville has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Hampton | Westmore | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,145Highest |
465Lowest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.5±11.5 32% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
| Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Westmore and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westmore 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$87,188±$11kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$330,000±$137kHighest about the U.S. average |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
| Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,050±$820Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$5,357Highest 72% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
35%±94.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Westmore 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 | — | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.