Compare towns
Waterville vs Wayne vs Benson
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
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 | Wayne | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,033Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Lowest 26% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest 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. |
$90,938±$17kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Wayne 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±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$266,700±$150kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Wayne 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 21% below U.S. |
$1,031±$304Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
| 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 27% above U.S. |
$3,967 27% above U.S. |
$4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Wayne 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 |
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.