Compare towns
Benson vs Shoreham vs Williston
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Shoreham | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,269 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
51.8±7.2 20% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
| Benson and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Shoreham 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% |
26.1%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Shoreham 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% |
36.2% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Williston 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 |
$93,654±$23k 15% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston and Shoreham 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 |
$316,400±$34k about the VT average |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,306±$335 6% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,713 6% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Williston 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% |
8.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None 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.