Compare towns
Waterville vs Warren vs Benson vs Belvidere
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 renters (20.1% rent).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
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 | Warren | Benson | Belvidere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680 |
1,585Highest |
784 |
422Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+16%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
53.1±4.2Highest 23% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
| Warren and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
9.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
22%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
30.1%±4.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Warren 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% |
60%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
3.6%±4 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$86,905±$16kHighest 7% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$81,563±$18k about the VT average |
| Warren 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±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$569,300±$123kHighest 80% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$239,200±$51k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,750±$394Highest 42% above VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,542±$1k 25% above VT |
| Warren and Belvidere 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 |
$7,284Highest 45% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
32.3%±26.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
15.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
36.2%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | 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 | 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.