Compare towns
Stratton vs Benson vs Brookfield vs Belvidere
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Belvidere has the most affordable homes ($239k 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 | Stratton | Benson | Brookfield | Belvidere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
784 |
1,486Highest |
422Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
40.7±6.5 6% below VT |
| Benson and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$81,563±$18k about the VT average |
| Stratton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$239,200±$51kLowest 24% below VT |
| Stratton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
| Belvidere and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
32 minLowest 35% above VT |
37 min 55% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.