Compare towns
Waterville vs Putney vs Benson vs Derby Line
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Derby Line has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
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 | Putney | Benson | Derby Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
2,622Highest |
784 |
783 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
46.7±13.3 8% 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Derby Line and Waterville 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% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.9%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Derby Line 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
35.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$71,518±$25k 12% below VT |
| Putney 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±$15k 25% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$201,000±$52kLowest 37% below VT |
| Putney 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$835±$334 32% 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 | $3,957 21% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,275Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
35.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
83%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±9.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.