Compare towns
Washington vs Benson vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most homeowners (94.4%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% 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 | Washington | Benson | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056 |
784Lowest |
1,223Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1 23% above VT |
51.9±9.4Lowest 20% above VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
| Chelsea and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8k 19% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
| Benson and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$260,900±$39kHighest 18% below VT |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,762 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
30 minLowest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| 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.