Compare towns
Williston vs Danby vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Danby has the most homeowners (89.3%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Williston | Danby | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,133 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Danby and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$77,321±$13kLowest 5% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,543 10% below VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Benson 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.