Compare towns
Waterville vs Pawlet 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%).
Pawlet has the most expensive homes ($266k median).
Benson has the highest household income ($79k).
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 | Pawlet | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,480Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.6% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
47.9±7.5Lowest 11% above 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% |
20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Pawlet 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% |
27.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Pawlet 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% |
37.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Lowest 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±$27k 12% below VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
$266,200±$44kHighest 16% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Pawlet 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 10% below VT |
$1,153±$215Highest 7% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Pawlet 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 |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3Lowest 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% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
32 minLowest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet and Benson 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 | Mettawee School District #84 | 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.