Compare towns
Benson vs Peacham vs Chelsea
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).
Peacham has the most people working from home (24.2%).
Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Peacham | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
887 |
1,223Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
50.1±5.7Lowest 16% above VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Peacham 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% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Chelsea 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Peacham 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 |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
| Peacham 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±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$302,000±$64kHighest 5% below VT |
$260,900±$39k 18% below VT |
| Peacham and Chelsea 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 |
$1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea 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 |
$5,605Highest 11% above VT |
$3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Peacham and Chelsea 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% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
30 minLowest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham 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 | Peacham School District | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| 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.