Compare towns
Waterville vs Scriba vs Benson vs Belvidere
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 renters (20.1% rent).
Scriba has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Belvidere has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
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 | Scriba | Benson | Belvidere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680 |
6,603Highest |
784 |
422Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
46.3±3.1 19% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
40.7±6.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Belvidere 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
8.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$92,036±$17kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$81,563±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Scriba and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$158,700±$10kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$239,200±$51k 28% below U.S. |
| Benson and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$980±$67Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,542±$1kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Belvidere and Benson 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. |
$3,649Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±13.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±53.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Belvidere 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Belvidere 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 | 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.