Compare towns
Benson vs Ira vs Strafford
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%).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
381Lowest |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
51.4±4.7Lowest 19% 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Strafford 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±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Strafford and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Strafford 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 | — | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None 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.