Compare towns
Wilder vs Fair Haven vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Wilder | Fair Haven | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Highest |
2,724 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
| Benson and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Wilder and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Wilder and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.