Compare towns
Cabot vs Brookfield vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cabot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Cabot | Brookfield | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,579Highest |
1,486 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.7% VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,031±$16kLowest 5% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Brookfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,500±$77k 15% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
| Brookfield and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Cabot and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,639Highest 8% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 27% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.