Population 430 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Benson
Household size in Benson
| Period | Benson | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.30 | 2.35 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.63 | 2.36 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.14 | 2.33 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.46 | 2.31 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.16 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
The average household in Benson has 2.46 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Still, the typical household here is bigger than in Vermont as a whole, where it has 2.31 people. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.30, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Benson
| Period | Benson | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.7 | 40.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.7 | 42.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 49.2 | 43.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 51.9 | 44.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +9.2 | +3.2 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 51.9, Benson is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Benson
| Period | Benson | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.1% | 10.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.7% | 9.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.5% | 8.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 8.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −10.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Benson: 4.9% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Benson
Renters in Benson
| Period | Benson | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.1% | 28.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.7% | 29.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.3% | 29.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.8% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −1.8 pts | +1.5 pts |
Benson is largely a place of homeowners: only 18.8% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Nearly half of owners (47.0%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Benson
| Period | Benson | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.3% | 15.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.9% | 15.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 31.4% | 17.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 31.3% | 15.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +15.0 pts | +0.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 31.3% of the housing in Benson, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Benson
| Period | Benson | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1971 | 1967 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1969 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1975 | 1973 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Benson run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1975 against 1980. That is in line with the rest of Vermont.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Benson
| Period | Benson | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $731 | $878 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $764 | $947 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $730 | $1,043 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,114 | $1,306 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$383 | +$428 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Benson costs $1,114 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 32.4% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Benson
Bachelor's degrees in Benson
| Period | Benson | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.7% | 34.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.1% | 36.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.6% | 38.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 32.6% | 44.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +16.9 pts | +9.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Benson (32.6%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Benson
| Period | Benson | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.8% | 90.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.7% | 91.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.8% | 92.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.2% | 94.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Benson have finished high school (92.2%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. Still, the rate is lower than in Vermont as a whole (94.8%).
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Benson
| Period | Benson | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 5.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 6.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.9% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 3.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Benson than nationally: unemployment was 3.4%, against 5.4%. Vermont as a whole looks much the same. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Benson compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benson | 2.46 | 51.9 | 4.9% | 18.8% | 31.3% | 1975 | $1,114 | 32.6% | 92.2% | 3.4% |
| Benson Landing | 2.46 | 51.6 | 5.3% | 18.2% | 30.5% | 1976 | $1,113 | 31.8% | 92.6% | 3.6% |
| West Castleton | 2.77 | 39.4 | 7.4% | 17.8% | 23.9% | 1948 | $916 | 28.3% | 94.6% | 0.8% |
| West Haven | 2.51 | 53.8 | 13.0% | 10.3% | 31.1% | 1978 | $1,140 | 30.8% | 95.7% | 8.0% |
| Hubbardton | 2.77 | 48.1 | 3.7% | 5.7% | 47.5% | 1973 | $1,687 | 42.8% | 98.7% | 0.3% |
| Hyde Manor | 2.54 | 46.4 | 9.2% | 7.6% | 25.8% | 1979 | $1,127 | 29.4% | 97.1% | 2.9% |
| Orwell | 2.49 | 47.8 | 9.3% | 13.1% | 21.4% | 1982 | $1,108 | 22.9% | 96.6% | 5.3% |
| Fair Haven | 2.73 | 39.4 | 8.1% | 17.9% | 24.9% | 1945 | $922 | 26.7% | 93.9% | 1.5% |
| Bomoseen | 2.24 | 40.6 | 7.9% | 18.3% | 30.8% | 1974 | $1,224 | 39.0% | 95.9% | 3.4% |
| Putnam Station | 2.23 | 53.5 | 10.0% | 5.0% | 58.6% | 1970 | $1,011 | 30.8% | 93.7% | 5.6% |
| Hydeville | 2.81 | 34.9 | 9.0% | 25.1% | 19.9% | 1943 | $895 | 24.5% | 93.1% | 2.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Leonard, ND · Milton, KS · Jollett, VA · Center, KY · Junction City, LA · Kelvin, ND · Calvert, PA · Berea, NE · Dixon Springs, TN · Northtown, KY
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Benson. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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