Compare towns
Waterville vs Charlotte 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 youngest population (median age 49.1).
Charlotte has the most expensive homes ($695k 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 | Waterville | Charlotte | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
3,916Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+4.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Lowest 14% above VT |
52.2±5Highest 21% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Charlotte and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Charlotte 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% |
22.3%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Charlotte 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% |
66.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
1.4%±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 |
$144,375±$27kHighest 78% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$695,300±$53kHighest 120% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,738±$803Highest 41% above VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Charlotte 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 |
$9,221Highest 83% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.1%±28.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Charlotte and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
95.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.8%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Charlotte and Benson 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 | — | #3 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.