Compare towns
Benson vs Wayne vs Waterville vs Stockbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wayne has the highest household income ($91k).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Wayne | Waterville | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,033Highest |
680Lowest |
791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Lowest 26% above U.S. |
55.3±5.3 42% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$90,938±$17kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$77,109±$12k 4% below U.S. |
| Wayne 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 27% below U.S. |
$266,700±$150k 20% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$283,500±$26kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Stockbridge and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,031±$304Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$1,140±$126Highest 19% below U.S. |
| 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 32% above U.S. |
$3,967 27% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,488Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.3%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.6%±12.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.