Compare towns
Benson vs Randolph vs Royalton
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 homeowners (80.9%).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Randolph | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
2,007 |
2,752Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
50.5±7.7 17% above VT |
43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
| Benson and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Royalton 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% |
24.2%±4.9 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Randolph 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% |
42.1% VT: 43.8% |
42.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7.3%±4.7 VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Randolph 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 |
$75,069±$11kLowest 8% below VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| Royalton 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±$26k 24% below VT |
$235,400±$25kLowest 26% below VT |
$263,200±$73kHighest 17% below VT |
| Royalton and Benson 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 |
$1,095±$198 11% below VT |
$1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
| Benson and Randolph 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 |
$4,507 11% below VT |
$4,675Highest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.3%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph 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% |
14.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
53.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
1965 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.7%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Royalton 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.