Compare towns
Westmore vs Wheelock 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).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
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 | Wheelock | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 465Lowest |
717 |
784Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 19% above VT |
51±5.6Lowest 18% 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%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westmore and Wheelock 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% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock 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% |
34.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Wheelock 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 |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% 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 |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% 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 |
— | $1,113±$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 |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±94.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 49% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Benson 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.