Compare towns
Westmore vs Cornwall vs Benson vs Charleston
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).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Charleston has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Westmore | Cornwall | Benson | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 465Lowest |
1,208Highest |
784 |
936 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 19% above VT |
50.4±4.6Lowest 17% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
| Charleston and Benson 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% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westmore and Cornwall 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% |
25.7%±6.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Charleston 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Cornwall 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 |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below VT |
| Cornwall 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 |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$238,000±$53kLowest 25% below VT |
| Cornwall 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 |
$1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$979±$444Lowest 21% below VT |
| Cornwall and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,357 6% above VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,750Lowest 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±94.2 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±26.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
12.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 49% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
32 min 35% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Charleston 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 | 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.