The Town FilesBenson, Vermont
Town in Rutland County · population 974 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $242,000
- Household income
- $78,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 73 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 51.9
Benson is a town of 974 people in Rutland County, Vermont. The median home is worth $242,000, below the typical Vermont town ($278,700). It ranks easier by car than 79% of Vermont towns, better for a vacation home than 72% of Vermont towns, better for cycling than 72% of Vermont towns.
How Benson ranks
Percentile among Vermont towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Vermont towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Benson is worth $242,000, below the typical Vermont town ($278,700). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $78,625, which is more affordable than 84% of Vermont towns. Median rent is $1,113 a month. 80.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Benson | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $242,000 | $278,700 |
| Median rent | $1,113 | $1,117 |
| Median household income | $78,625 | $76,895 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 80.9% | 81.6% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 24.7% | — |
Who lives in Benson
| People | Benson | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.9 | 45.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.9% | 22.2% |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.6% | 38.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.4% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 9.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 18.6% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 31.8 min | 25.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.1% | 89.3% |
Weather in Benson
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 12.1°F. About 42.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 72.6 inches of snow (typical Vermont town: 84.3 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Benson since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Vermont town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on July 13, 2023 about 2.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 13, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 10, 2001.
Severe weather in Rutland County since 1996
Rutland County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 8, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3609: Tropical Depression Debby |
| March 2, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4762: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| July 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4720: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3595: Flooding |
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3567: Tropical Storm Henri |
Jobs and pay in Rutland County
Rutland County had 25,313 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,753 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Benson itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Benson
1 public school with 98 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benson Village School | PK-6 | 98 | 16.3 |
Towns near Benson
- Putnam, NY6.3 mi · 567 people · home $266,200
- Fair Haven, VT6.5 mi · 2,736 people · home $176,500
- Orwell, VT7.0 mi · 1,239 people · home $335,600
- Hubbardton, VT7.2 mi · 735 people · home $293,800
- Castleton, VT8.1 mi · 4,458 people · home $224,800
- Castleton Four Corners, VT8.2 mi · 699 people · home $159,300
- Fair Haven, VT8.3 mi · 2,225 people · home $174,700
- Sudbury, VT8.9 mi · 545 people · home $338,500
Benson questions
Is Benson, Vermont a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Benson scores better for retirees than 40% of Vermont towns and quieter than 64%. 26.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.9).
How much does a house cost in Benson?
The median owner-occupied home in Benson is valued at $242,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,625, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,113 a month.
What is the weather like in Benson?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 12.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.5 inches of precipitation a year and 72.6 inches of snow.
Does Benson get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Benson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on July 13, 2023. The typical Vermont town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)