Compare towns
Benson vs Sutton vs Westminster vs Stockbridge
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 renters (19.1% rent).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 46.6).
Westminster has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Stockbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).
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 | Westminster | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
790 |
2,999Highest |
791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
55.3±5.3Highest 28% above VT |
| Stockbridge and Westminster 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% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
27.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Stockbridge and Westminster 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% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Westminster 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 |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$77,109±$12k 5% 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 |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$283,500±$26kHighest 10% below VT |
| Stockbridge and Westminster 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 |
— | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,140±$126Highest 8% 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 |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$4,488Highest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
53.3%±22 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% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.6%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Stockbridge and Westminster 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.