Compare towns
Benson vs Springfield vs Stockbridge vs Waterville
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 highest household income ($79k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (28.6%).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Springfield | Stockbridge | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
9,084Highest |
791 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
55.3±5.3Highest 28% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Stockbridge 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% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Stockbridge 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$77,109±$12k 5% below VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Benson and Stockbridge 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$283,500±$26kHighest 10% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Stockbridge and Benson 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 |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,140±$126Highest 8% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Stockbridge and Benson 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 |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,488 11% below VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
53.3%±22 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Stockbridge 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.6%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Stockbridge 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.