Compare towns
Benson vs Windham 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 most renters (19.1% rent).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
West Haven has the most homeowners (90.3%).
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 | Windham | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Highest |
594 |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±13.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Haven 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% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$85,250±$29k 5% above VT |
| Windham 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±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,485 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Windham 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
10.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.