Compare towns
Benson vs Walden vs Waterville
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 oldest population (median age 51.9).
Walden has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
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 | Walden | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
1,037Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
48.8±3.2Lowest 13% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Benson 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% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| 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 3% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Walden and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Benson and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden 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% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.