Compare towns
Whiting vs Benson vs Strafford vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
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 | Whiting | Benson | Strafford | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
784 |
1,372Highest |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
| Benson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$76,250±$34kLowest 6% below VT |
| Strafford and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
| Whiting and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,227 16% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | None 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.