Compare towns
Windham vs Benson vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Windham | Benson | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 594Lowest |
784 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Benson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Windham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Benson and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.