Compare towns
Benson vs Pawlet vs Whitingham
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 people working from home (20.4%).
Whitingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1%).
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 | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,480Highest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above VT |
| Benson and Pawlet 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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Pawlet 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% |
37.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Pawlet 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 |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
| Benson and Whitingham 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 |
$266,200±$44kHighest 16% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
| Pawlet and Whitingham 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 |
$673±$150Lowest 45% 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 | $4,125 18% below VT |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham 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% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 35% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.