What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peacham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Peacham	Benson
People
Population	887Highest	784Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.3%Highest VT: +2.8%	-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.1±5.7Lowest 16% above VT	51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT
	Benson and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9%	16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Peacham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4%	26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Peacham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.9%Highest VT: 43.8%	32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±4Lowest VT: 7%	7%±5.8Highest VT: 7%
	Benson and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT	$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT
	Peacham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$302,000±$64kHighest 5% below VT	$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT
	Peacham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT	$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT
	Benson and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,605Highest 11% above VT	$4,125Lowest 18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4%	53.4%±35.2Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Peacham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.6%Highest VT: 10.1%	5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	80.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest same as VT	1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 31% above VT	32 minHighest 35% above VT
Work from home	24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9%	18.6%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Peacham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Peacham School District	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

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.