Compare towns
Wells vs Sutton vs Benson
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%).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 46.6).
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 | Wells | Sutton | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148Highest |
790 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% 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% |
17.3%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sutton 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% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest 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% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
| Benson and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Wells and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
— | $1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
| Wells and Benson 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 |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 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% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
30 minLowest 26% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Sutton 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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 Our Story | 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.