Compare towns
Benson vs Middlesex vs Rochester
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 renters (19.1% rent).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Middlesex | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
| Rochester 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Benson 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Middlesex 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.