Compare towns
Benson vs Pawlet 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 highest household income ($79k).
Pawlet has the most expensive homes ($266k median).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Pawlet | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
1,480Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
47.9±7.5Lowest 11% above 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%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Pawlet 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% |
27.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Pawlet 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% |
37.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
$266,200±$44kHighest 16% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Pawlet 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 |
$1,153±$215Highest 7% below VT |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Pawlet and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3Lowest 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% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 35% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet 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 | Mettawee School District #84 | 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.