Compare towns
Benson vs Wheelock vs Williston vs West Haven
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
West Haven has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Williston | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
717 |
10,144Highest |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
54±10.5Highest 25% above VT |
| West Haven 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% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±13.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Wheelock 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%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Haven and Wheelock 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% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Williston 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 |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$85,250±$29k 5% above VT |
| Williston and West Haven 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 |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 18% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,485 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Williston 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Wheelock 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.