Compare towns
Waterville vs Westminster vs Whiting 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 affordable homes ($236k median).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Whiting has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Westminster | Whiting | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680 |
2,999Highest |
532Lowest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1% VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Westminster 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% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster 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% VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Whiting 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 |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Whiting 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 25% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Whiting and Westminster 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 |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Whiting and Benson 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 |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$4,227Highest 16% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting 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% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Benson 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— | — |
| 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.