Compare towns
Benson vs Westminster 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 most affordable homes ($242k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Westminster has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Westminster | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
497Lowest |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Westminster 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% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Westminster 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 |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| 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±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Westminster and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
| Benson and Westminster 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 |
$4,480Highest 11% below VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Westminster 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.