What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pittsfield has the most people working from home (28.1%).

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	Pittsfield	Benson
People
Population	391Lowest	784Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.7%Highest VT: +2.8%	-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT	51.9±9.4Lowest 20% above VT
	Pittsfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.6%±8.4Lowest VT: 17.9%	16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9%
	Benson and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.4%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4%	26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Pittsfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.4%Highest VT: 43.8%	32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 7%	7%±5.8Highest VT: 7%
	Benson and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,852±$12kLowest 19% below VT	$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT
	Benson and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$313,300±$73kHighest about the VT average	$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT
	Pittsfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,035±$140Lowest 16% below VT	$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT
	Benson and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,181Highest about the VT average	$4,125Lowest 18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.6%±43Lowest VT: 48.4%	53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4%
	Benson and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.4%Highest VT: 10.1%	5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2%	80.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT	1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 18% below VT	32 minHighest 35% above VT
Work from home	28.1%±24.1Highest VT: 16.9%	18.6%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Pittsfield 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
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.