Compare towns
Benson vs Stratton vs Andover vs West Haven
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).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
West Haven has the most homeowners (90.3%).
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 | Stratton | Andover | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Highest |
532 |
616 |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
54±10.5Highest 25% above VT |
| West Haven 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±13.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and West Haven 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Haven 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% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
43.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Andover 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
$85,250±$29k 5% above VT |
| Stratton and Andover 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
| Stratton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
— |
| Andover and Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$5,190Highest about the VT average |
$4,485 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Benson 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 | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| 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.