Compare towns
Waterville vs Eden 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Eden has the youngest population (median age 37.7).
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 | Eden | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,351Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
37.7±1.9Lowest 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%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
11.6%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
17.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
4.1%±3.8Lowest 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 |
$83,578±$8kHighest about the VT average |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Eden and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$215,900±$27kLowest 32% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
$1,300±$441Highest 5% above VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Eden and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 21% below VT |
$3,313Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
34.3%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Waterville 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% |
6.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
77.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1991Highest 15 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 60% above VT |
38 minHighest 63% above VT |
32 minLowest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
5.6%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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.