Compare towns
Waterville vs Epping vs Benson vs Johnson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Johnson has the youngest population (median age 30.9).
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 | Epping | Benson | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
7,430Highest |
784 |
3,450 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Johnson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Epping 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnson and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$55,346±$14kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$169,400±$62kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$948±$45Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Epping and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 27% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,310Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±20.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Epping School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.