Compare towns
Benson vs Marlboro vs Waterville
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).
Marlboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+59.7%).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Marlboro | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
1,362Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+59.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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% |
12%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest 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%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.8%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% VT: 43.8% |
53.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$77,135±$10k 5% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Benson and Marlboro 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 |
$357,300±$55kHighest 13% above VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Marlboro 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 |
$5,640Highest 12% above VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.1%±43.6Lowest 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% |
7.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
17 minLowest 26% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
26%±11.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Marlboro 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 | Marlboro School District | 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 |
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.