Compare towns
Westmore vs Derby 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 expensive homes ($330k median).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k 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 | Westmore | Derby | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 465Lowest |
4,537Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5Lowest 19% above VT |
51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson and Derby 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% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westmore and Derby 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% |
36.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,188±$11kHighest 7% above VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
| Westmore and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,000±$137kHighest 4% above VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,050±$820Lowest 15% below VT |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
| Benson and Derby 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 |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±94.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Derby 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% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 49% above VT |
32 min 38% above VT |
32 minLowest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #52 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school 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.