Compare towns
Westmore vs Stratton vs Newark vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Newark has the most affordable homes ($230k 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 | Stratton | Newark | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 465Lowest |
532 |
727 |
784Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 19% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
41.4±6 4% below 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%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
22%±3 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Newark 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Westmore and Benson 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% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
41%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest 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±$11k 7% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$72,929±$7kLowest 10% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Stratton and Westmore 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 |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Newark and Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$3,771Lowest 25% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±94.2 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 49% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
34 min 44% above VT |
32 minLowest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2 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 | — | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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 | 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.