Compare towns
Bristol vs Benson vs New Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the most renters (28.7% rent).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
New Haven has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Bristol | Benson | New Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
784Lowest |
1,792 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Lowest 11% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
48±3.9 11% above VT |
| Benson and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| New Haven and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±2.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$92,321±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
| New Haven and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$379,300±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
| New Haven and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,163±$143 6% below VT |
| Bristol and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,967 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
20.1%±6.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Bristol 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 | #31 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| 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.