Compare towns
Benson vs Sutton vs Stockbridge vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (28.6%).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Sutton | Stockbridge | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
2,239Highest |
791 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Lowest 24% above U.S. |
55.3±5.3Highest 42% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$8k about the U.S. average |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$77,109±$12k 4% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$283,500±$26k 15% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,140±$126 19% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$4,488 44% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.3%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.6%±12.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stockbridge 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.