Compare towns
Benson vs Proctor vs Putney vs West Haven
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 people working from home (18.6%).
Proctor has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k median).
West Haven has the highest household income ($85k).
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 | Proctor | Putney | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,794 |
2,622Highest |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
54±10.5Highest 25% above VT |
| West Haven 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% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±13.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and West Haven 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% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Haven 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% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$85,250±$29kHighest 5% above VT |
| West Haven and Putney 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 |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
| Putney and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— |
| Benson and Proctor 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 |
$4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,485 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
10.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.