Compare towns
Walden vs Benson vs Stannard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Benson has the most kids (16.5% under 18).
Stannard has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Walden | Benson | Stannard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037Highest |
784 |
228Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
48.3±14.6Lowest 12% above VT |
| Benson and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.2%±9.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.9%±8.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Stannard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
44.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
0%±6.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$66,979±$30kLowest 18% below VT |
| Walden and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$216,200±$44kLowest 32% below VT |
| Benson and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
— |
| Benson and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$4,183Highest 17% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
3.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
98.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.6%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | 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 | 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.