Compare towns
Westmore vs Whitingham vs Benson vs Newark
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).
Whitingham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Newark has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
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 | Whitingham | Benson | Newark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 465Lowest |
1,368Highest |
784 |
727 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 19% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
41.4±6Lowest 4% below 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% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Newark and Westmore 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham 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% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
41%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest 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 |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$72,929±$7k 10% 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 |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
| Westmore and Whitingham 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 |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,357Highest 6% above VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,771Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±94.2 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham 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% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 49% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
32 minLowest 35% above VT |
34 min 44% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2 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 | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | — | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
— | — |
| 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.