Compare towns
Waterville vs Cambridge 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).
Cambridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Cambridge | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
3,767Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+4.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
37.4±1.8Lowest 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% |
23%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cambridge 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$72,344±$19k 11% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
| Benson and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$343,000±$38kHighest 8% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,183±$66Highest 4% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Cambridge 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 |
$4,910Highest about the VT average |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.6%±7.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Cambridge 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% |
6.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
70.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
32 min 38% above VT |
32 minLowest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #25 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Cambridge School District | 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 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.