Compare towns
Benson vs Panton 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 affordable homes ($242k median).
Panton has the most people working from home (26.7%).
Westmore has the most homeowners (88.2%).
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 | Panton | Westmore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Highest |
690 |
465Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
42.7±3.8Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
24.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Panton 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest 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% |
35.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest 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±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$86,667±$10k 7% above VT |
$87,188±$11kHighest 7% above VT |
| Westmore and Panton 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 |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
$330,000±$137k 4% above VT |
| Panton and Westmore 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 |
$1,410±$130Highest 14% above VT |
$1,050±$820Lowest 15% below VT |
| Panton and Benson 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 |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
$5,357 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
61%±39Highest VT: 48.4% |
35%±94.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Panton 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% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Panton 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.