Compare towns
Benson vs Highgate vs Montgomery
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).
Montgomery has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
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 | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
| Benson and Montgomery 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% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest 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% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery 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% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Montgomery 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 |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% 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±$21k 11% below VT |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
| Montgomery and Highgate 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±$691 27% below VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
| Benson and Highgate 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 |
$4,326Highest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
31 minLowest 32% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Montgomery 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| 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.