Compare towns
Benson vs Ira 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 most affordable homes ($242k median).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
381Lowest |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Lowest 20% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
| Ira and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira 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% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 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±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Benson and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$273,800±$35kHighest 14% below VT |
| Westminster and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Benson and Ira 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 |
$4,146Highest 18% below VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% 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 |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.