Compare towns
Waterville vs Arlington vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Waterville | Arlington | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
2,598Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Arlington and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Arlington and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,549Highest 10% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #50 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Arlington School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.