Compare towns
Benson vs Northfield vs Ira
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%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Northfield | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
5,920Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Northfield 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%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira 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% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 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 |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Northfield 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 |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Benson and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Benson 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Northfield 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.