Compare towns
Benson vs Waterville vs Westminster
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).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% 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 | Waterville | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Highest |
680 |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
| 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%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Waterville 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson 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% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest 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 |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Westminster 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±$26k 24% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% 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 | $4,125 18% below VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,480Highest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
30 minLowest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Benson 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — |
| 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.