Compare towns
Danby vs Benson vs Wells vs Addison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Addison has the highest household income ($107k).
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 | Danby | Benson | Wells | Addison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133 |
784Lowest |
1,148 |
1,175Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
50.7±5.2Lowest 18% above VT |
53.1±7.6Highest 23% above VT |
| Addison and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Addison and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.1%±1.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Addison and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
$106,667±$7kHighest 31% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$362,200±$23kHighest 14% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
$2,019±$461Highest 64% above VT |
| Addison and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,831Highest 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.9%±62.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.