Compare towns
Benson vs Newark vs Westmore
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%).
Newark has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
Westmore has the most expensive homes ($330k 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 | Newark | Westmore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Highest |
727 |
465Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT |
51.5±11.5 19% above VT |
| Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Newark and Westmore 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% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westmore 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% |
41%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Westmore 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 |
$72,929±$7kLowest 10% below VT |
$87,188±$11kHighest 7% above VT |
| Westmore and Benson 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 |
$229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
$330,000±$137kHighest 4% above VT |
| Westmore 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 |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
$1,050±$820Lowest 15% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 18% below VT |
$3,771Lowest 25% below VT |
$5,357Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
35%±94.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Westmore 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% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 35% above VT |
34 min 44% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Westmore 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — |
| 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.