Compare towns
Wells vs Benson vs Stamford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Stamford has the most expensive homes ($303k median).
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 | Wells | Benson | Stamford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148Highest |
784Lowest |
963 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
49.4±5.5Lowest 15% above VT |
| Benson and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stamford and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
34%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.5%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Stamford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$88,646±$9kHighest 9% above VT |
| Stamford and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$303,200±$25kHighest 4% below VT |
| Stamford and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282 6% above VT |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,583±$935Highest 28% above VT |
| Stamford and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$5,113Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
95.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
31 minLowest 30% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Stamford School District |
| 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 |
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.