Compare towns
Sutton vs Benson vs Westminster vs Burke
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 most affordable homes ($231k median).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Burke has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Burke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
784Lowest |
2,999Highest |
1,317 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
41.1±4.8Lowest 5% below 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%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
23%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Burke and Westminster 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% |
21.7%±2.2 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% |
41.4% 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% |
3.6%±2.3 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±$8k 3% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$87,143±$17kHighest 7% above VT |
| Burke and Benson 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±$35k 14% below VT |
$340,600±$18kHighest 8% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$938±$191 24% below VT |
| Benson and Burke 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 |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$5,177Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Benson 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% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 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 |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Burke 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.