Compare towns
Benson vs Topsham 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).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (28.6%).
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 | Topsham | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
999Highest |
791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
50.1±5.9Lowest 16% above VT |
55.3±5.3Highest 28% 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%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Topsham and Benson 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% |
23.2%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.9%±3.2Highest 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% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Topsham 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 |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% 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 |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
$283,500±$26kHighest 10% 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 |
$908±$398Lowest 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 |
$4,006Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,488Highest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.3%±22Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham 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% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.6%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Waits River Union High District #36 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None 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.