Compare towns
Waterville vs Whitingham vs Strafford 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Whitingham has the youngest population (median age 46.4).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Whitingham | Strafford | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,368 |
1,372Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson and Strafford 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% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Waterville 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham 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% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 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±$27k 12% below VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 60% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Strafford 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Strafford School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
— | — |
| 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.