Compare towns
Benson vs Highgate vs Waterville vs Shoreham
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).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Shoreham has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Waterville | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
3,528Highest |
680Lowest |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
51.8±7.2 20% above VT |
| Benson and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Shoreham 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% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
36.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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 3% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$93,654±$23kHighest 15% above VT |
| Shoreham and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$316,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Shoreham and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,306±$335Highest 6% above VT |
| Shoreham and Benson 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 |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$4,713Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Shoreham 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.