Compare towns
Benson vs Ira vs Middlesex vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Ira | Middlesex | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
381Lowest |
1,943Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% 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%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Waterville 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% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest 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% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 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 |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Benson 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 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.