Compare towns
Benson vs Jay vs Waterville vs Stockbridge
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 highest household income ($79k).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Stockbridge has the most expensive homes ($284k 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 | Jay | Waterville | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
471Lowest |
680 |
791Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
49.1±8.2Lowest 14% above VT |
55.3±5.3Highest 28% above VT |
| Stockbridge and Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Stockbridge 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest 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±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$77,109±$12k 5% below VT |
| Benson and Stockbridge 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$283,500±$26kHighest 10% below VT |
| Stockbridge and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
— | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,140±$126Highest 8% below VT |
| Stockbridge 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$4,488Highest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
53.3%±22 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Stockbridge 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
38 min 60% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.6%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Stockbridge and Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None 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.