Compare towns
Middlesex vs Williston vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Middlesex | Williston | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943 |
10,144Highest |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
| Middlesex and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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 |
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.