Compare towns
Williamstown 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
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Williamstown | Fair Haven | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,579Highest |
2,724 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5 about the VT average |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Williamstown and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
| Benson and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 31% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Williamstown 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.