What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

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	Strafford	Benson
People
Population	1,372Highest	784Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8%	-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.4±4.7Lowest 19% above VT	51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT
	Benson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9%	16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Strafford and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4%	26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4%
	Benson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.3%Highest VT: 43.8%	32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7%	7%±5.8Highest VT: 7%
	Benson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT	$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT	$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT	$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT
	Strafford and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,149Highest 42% above VT	$4,125Lowest 18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4%	53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4%
	Benson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%	5.4%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT	1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest about the VT average	32 minHighest 35% above VT
Work from home	16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9%	18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9%
	Benson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Strafford School District	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	None 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.