Compare towns
Benson vs Highgate vs Ira
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%).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Highgate | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
3,528Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Highgate 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% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira 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% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Ira 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 3% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Highgate 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±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Highgate and Ira 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 |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
| Benson and Ira 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,146Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Ira 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.