Compare towns
Benson vs Wheelock vs Jay
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).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Wheelock | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Highest |
717 |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
51±5.6Lowest 18% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
| Jay and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest 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% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Wheelock 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 |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
| Benson and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
| Benson and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Jay 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
97% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Wheelock 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 | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| 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.