Compare towns
Benson vs Putney vs Jericho 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).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Jericho has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Putney | Jericho | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
2,622 |
5,114Highest |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
49.7±5.1 15% 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%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Jericho 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$260,900±$39k 18% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$1,524±$467 24% above VT |
| Jericho and Chelsea 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Chelsea 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jericho and Benson 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 | #6 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.