Compare towns
Hampton vs Benson vs Waterville vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
West Haven has the most homeowners (90.3%).
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 | Hampton | Benson | Waterville | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145Highest |
784 |
680 |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.1±14.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
54±10.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| West Haven and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±13.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Haven and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$85,250±$29kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| West Haven and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$245,000±$34kHighest 26% below U.S. |
| West Haven and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
— |
| Hampton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
$4,485Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.