Compare towns

Westmore vs Brookfield vs Benson

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westmore has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k 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.

MeasureWestmoreBrookfieldBenson
People
Population
465Lowest
1,486Highest
784
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-7.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.5±11.5
19% above VT
47±5.9Lowest
9% above VT
51.9±9.4Highest
20% above VT
Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.5%±6.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±4.1
VT: 17.9%
16.5%±5.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Westmore and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
29.7%±6.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
26.9%±4.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Brookfield and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
45.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
32.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.2%±2.4
VT: 7%
7%±5.8Highest
VT: 7%
Benson and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$87,188±$11k
7% above VT
$98,500±$23kHighest
21% above VT
$78,625±$8kLowest
3% below VT
Brookfield and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$330,000±$137k
4% above VT
$339,300±$15kHighest
7% above VT
$242,000±$26kLowest
24% below VT
Brookfield and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,050±$820
15% below VT
$975±$306Lowest
21% below VT
$1,113±$170Highest
10% below VT
Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,357Highest
6% above VT
$4,560
10% below VT
$4,125Lowest
18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
35%±94.2
VT: 48.4%
30.4%±27.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
53.4%±35.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.3%
VT: 10.1%
5.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
87.9%
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 min
49% above VT
37 minHighest
55% above VT
32 minLowest
35% above VT
Work from home
14%±5.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±10.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
18.6%±5.4
VT: 16.9%
Brookfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 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

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.