Compare towns
Waterville vs Newcomb vs Benson
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 most kids (20.4% under 18).
Newcomb has the shortest commute (17 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 | Newcomb | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680 |
490Lowest |
784Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Lowest 26% above U.S. |
59.1±10.1Highest 52% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
| Newcomb 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 U.S.: 22% |
9.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newcomb 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newcomb 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±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$108,750±$25kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Newcomb 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±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$254,800±$47kHighest 23% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Newcomb and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
— | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Benson and Waterville 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. |
$1,488Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Newcomb 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.