Compare towns
Westmore vs Ira 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).
Ira has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Ira | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 465 |
381Lowest |
784Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5Lowest 19% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Ira 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest 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%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira 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% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Ira 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 |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Westmore and Benson 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 |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
| Westmore and Ira 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 |
$942±$52Lowest 24% 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 |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±94.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Ira 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest 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 minHighest 49% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | — | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school 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.