Compare towns
Benson vs Peru vs Winhall
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).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Winhall has the most expensive homes ($472k median).
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 | Peru | Winhall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Highest |
434Lowest |
752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +53.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
48.9±6.1 13% above VT |
| Benson and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17%±6.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Winhall and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Peru 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% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
67.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Winhall 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 |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$95,500±$23k 18% above VT |
| Peru and Winhall 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 |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$471,800±$55kHighest 49% above VT |
| Winhall and Peru 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 |
$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
$1,094±$732Lowest 11% below VT |
| Peru 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 |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$6,567Highest 30% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.5%±38.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
27 minLowest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.4%±9 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Winhall 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.