Compare towns
Chelsea vs Whitingham vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Whitingham has the youngest population (median age 46.4).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Chelsea | Whitingham | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,223 |
1,368Highest |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
| Benson and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $260,900±$39k 18% below VT |
$262,300±$30kHighest 17% below VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
| Whitingham and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.3% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 28% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.8 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.