Compare towns
Clarendon vs Benson vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clarendon has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Clarendon | Benson | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,460 |
784Lowest |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.3±4.1Highest 21% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
50.1±3.1Lowest 16% above VT |
| Clarendon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Clarendon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,609±$12kLowest 27% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
| Benson and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $220,900±$32kLowest 30% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
| Benson and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$305 11% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
| Benson and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,740Lowest 26% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$4,241Highest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±27.1 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 33% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Brandon 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 | — | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Mill River Union High School | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
— | 9.9Highest |
| 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.