Compare towns
Waterville vs Topsham 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 the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Topsham | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
999Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Lowest 14% above VT |
50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson and Topsham 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% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Topsham 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% |
23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
| Benson and Topsham 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 |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
$908±$398Lowest 26% 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 |
$4,006 21% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham 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% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
35 min 49% above VT |
32 minLowest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Topsham 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 | Waits River Union High District #36 | 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 Our Story | 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.