Compare towns
Sutton vs Benson vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 46.6).
Benson has the highest household income ($79k).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Sutton | Benson | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 790 |
784Lowest |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
| Benson and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$273,800±$35kHighest 14% below VT |
| Westminster and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Benson and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.