Compare towns
Benson vs Hyde Park vs Westminster
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 oldest population (median age 51.9).
Hyde Park has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Westminster has the most expensive homes ($314k median).
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 | Hyde Park | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Highest |
513 |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
42.6±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
| Benson and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Hyde Park 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% |
16.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$89,946±$10kHighest 11% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
| Hyde Park and Westminster 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 |
$221,800±$57kLowest 30% below VT |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,306±$285Highest 6% above VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Hyde Park 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 |
$3,893Lowest 23% below VT |
$4,480Highest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±47.5 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Hyde Park 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% |
6.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1964 12 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
7.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Benson 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 | — | #59 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.