Compare towns
Benson vs Wells vs Wheelock
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 renters (19.1% rent).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k 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 | Wells | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
1,148Highest |
717Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
50.7±5.2Lowest 18% above VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
| Benson and Wheelock 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% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock 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% |
24.5%±2.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Benson 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% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
| Benson and Wells 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 |
$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Wells and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
— |
| Wells and Benson 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 |
$3,308 34% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — |
| 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.