Compare towns
Waterville vs Fairfax 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).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Fairfax | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
5,226Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% 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% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax 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 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Lowest 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 |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
31 minLowest 31% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax 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 | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Fairfax School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.