Compare towns
Benson vs Pomfret 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).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).
Winhall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+53.7%).
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 | Pomfret | Winhall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
908Highest |
752Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+53.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
53.4±12.1Highest 24% above VT |
48.9±6.1Lowest 13% above VT |
| Pomfret and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±6Lowest 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%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Pomfret 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58% VT: 43.8% |
67.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$84,229±$8k 4% above VT |
$95,500±$23kHighest 18% above VT |
| Winhall and Pomfret 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 |
$399,200±$144k 26% above VT |
$471,800±$55kHighest 49% above VT |
| Winhall and Pomfret 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 |
$1,170±$98Highest 5% below VT |
$1,094±$732Lowest 11% below VT |
| Pomfret 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 |
$6,722Highest 33% above VT |
$6,567 30% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
24%±22.4Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
30.3%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.4%±9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pomfret 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school 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.