What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

Benson has the most kids (16.5% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Townshend	Benson
People
Population	1,538Highest	784Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT	51.9±9.4Lowest 20% above VT
	Townshend and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9%	16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9%
	Benson and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4%	26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4%
	Benson and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.1%Highest VT: 43.8%	32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7%	7%±5.8Highest VT: 7%
	Benson and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT	$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT
	Townshend and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$287,200±$79kHighest 9% below VT	$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT
	Townshend and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT	$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT
	Benson and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,364Highest 6% above VT	$4,125Lowest 18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4%	53.4%±35.2Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Townshend and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest VT: 10.1%	5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Highest VT: 73.2%	80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT	1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% above VT	32 minHighest 35% above VT
Work from home	28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9%	18.6%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Townshend and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	8.1	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.