Compare towns
Walden vs Sutton vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Sutton has the most kids (17.3% under 18).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Sutton | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037Highest |
790 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% 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%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Benson 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% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Sutton 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% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest 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 |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% 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 |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% 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 |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 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% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.