Compare towns
Newfane vs Benson vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Benson has the most kids (16.5% under 18).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Newfane | Benson | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,456Highest |
784 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
51.9±9.4Lowest 20% above VT |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
| Newfane and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Benson and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49kHighest 10% below VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Newfane and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Newfane and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174Highest about the VT average |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 13% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school 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.