Median Income
$31,607
household / year
Median Home Value
$170,800
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$950
gross / month
Cost of Living
95
national avg = 100

Is Benson, VT a Good Place to Live?

Benson is a small town of 232 in Vermont, with a median household income of $31,607 and a 6.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Benson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Benson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Benson city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 95.2

Benson's overall cost of living index is 95.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Benson costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric Benson, VT National Avg
Median Home Value $170,800 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $950 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 63.4% 65.9%
Median Household Income $31,607 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Benson's violent crime rate is 154.7 per 100,000 residents — 59% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
154.7 /100k
Property Crime
1170.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Benson is served primarily by Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Benson, VT National Avg
School District Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 —
Elementary Schools 4 —
Middle Schools N/A —
High Schools 1 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 12.9:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 3.1% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 88.2% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Benson sees average highs of 30.3°F in January and 83.5°F in July, with 42.5 inches of annual precipitation and 83.4 inches of snow per year.

MetricBenson, VT
Average High — January30.3°F
Average High — July83.5°F
Annual Precipitation42.5"
Annual Snowfall83.4"

Demographics

MetricBenson, VTNational Avg
Population232—
Median Age39.738.9
Unemployment Rate6.4%3.7%
Avg Commute Time23.7 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)97.0%59.3%
Black or African American3.0%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino0.0%18.9%
Asian0.0%6.3%
Under 1821.6%22.2%
65 and over24.1%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Castleton Four Corners, VT 8 mi Fair Haven, VT 8 mi Castleton, VT 9 mi Ticonderoga, NY 11 mi Brandon, VT 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Benson

Benson, VT is covered by 1 ZIP code:

05743

Benson vs Other Cities

Benson, VT vs Castleton Four Corners, VT Benson, VT vs Fair Haven, VT Benson, VT vs Castleton, VT Benson, VT vs Ticonderoga, NY Benson, VT vs Brandon, VT

Frequently Asked Questions

Benson's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Benson roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $170,800 and median rent is $950/month.
Benson's violent crime rate is 154.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1170.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Benson are operated by Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62. The district has 4 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1. 3.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Benson, VT has a population of 232, a median household income of $31,607, and an unemployment rate of 6.4%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Benson averages 30.3°F in January and 83.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 42.5 inches with about 83.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Benson, VT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 05743.
The population of Benson, Vermont is 232 with a median age of 39.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Benson: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $170,800, median household income $31,607, crime index 47 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Benson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.