Compare towns
Waterville vs Fairlee 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%).
Fairlee has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Fairlee | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,066Highest |
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±8.2Lowest 14% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Fairlee 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Benson 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Benson 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% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest 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 |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
| Benson and Fairlee 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 |
$274,200±$39kHighest 13% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Fairlee and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 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 |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Rivendell Interstate 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 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.