Compare towns
Leicester vs Benson vs Sutton vs Pawlet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leicester has the most expensive homes ($310k median).
Benson has the highest household income ($79k).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Pawlet has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.6%).
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 | Leicester | Benson | Sutton | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
784Lowest |
790 |
1,480Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.8 13% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
| Benson and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Pawlet and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$30k 13% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
| Benson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,700±$107kHighest about the VT average |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
| Leicester and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,098±$300Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
— | $1,153±$215Highest 7% below VT |
| Pawlet and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 24% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,924 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±40.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 20% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Mettawee School District #84 |
| 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.