Compare towns
Ira vs Benson vs Middlesex vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
West Haven has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Ira | Benson | Middlesex | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381 |
784 |
1,943Highest |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
54±10.5 25% above VT |
| Ira and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±13.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Haven and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$85,250±$29k 5% above VT |
| Middlesex and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
— |
| Middlesex and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146 18% below VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,485 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Benson 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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.