Compare towns
Cavendish vs Benson vs Whitingham vs Barnet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Whitingham has the most homeowners (85.2%).
Barnet has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
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 | Cavendish | Benson | Whitingham | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
784Lowest |
1,368 |
1,855Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
| Benson and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
35.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
| Cavendish and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40kHighest 10% below VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
| Cavendish and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$974±$72 21% below VT |
| Benson and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$4,489 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | 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.