Compare towns
Benson vs Webster vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Webster has the most expensive homes ($339k median).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
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 | Webster | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
2,227Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 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 |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Webster 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. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Benson 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% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Webster 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 | Merrimack Valley School District | 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 History | 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.