Compare towns
Benson vs Holderness 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%).
Holderness has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Holderness | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
1,917Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
39.4±7.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
| Benson and Waterville 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% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Benson 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% |
31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holderness 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$107,863±$45kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Holderness 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. |
$363,100±$60kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer 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 |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Holderness 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 | Holderness School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.