Compare towns
Benson vs Waltham vs Shoreham
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).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Shoreham has the most kids (18% 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 | Waltham | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
452Lowest |
1,269Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
51.8±7.2Lowest 20% above VT |
| Waltham 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% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shoreham 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% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Waltham 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 |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
$93,654±$23k 15% above VT |
| Waltham and Shoreham 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 |
$329,700±$51kHighest 4% above VT |
$316,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Waltham and Shoreham 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 |
$1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,306±$335Highest 6% above VT |
| Shoreham and Benson 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 |
$5,714Highest 13% above VT |
$4,713 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Shoreham 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% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school 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.