Compare towns
Calais vs Ira vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Ira has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Calais | Ira | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
381Lowest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Ira and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Calais and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Calais and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | 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.