Compare towns
Benson vs Strafford vs Vershire
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%).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
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 | Strafford | Vershire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,372Highest |
842 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
45.7±9.3Lowest 6% above VT |
| Benson and Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Vershire 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Vershire 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Vershire 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$71,618±$12kLowest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$209,100±$55kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$1,117±$80 9% below VT |
| Strafford and Vershire 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,640 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.8%±24.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Vershire and Benson 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Strafford School District | — |
| High school 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.