Rural vibes and family ties in Benson
Benson is a small town of about 1,000 people among the rolling hills, meandering streams and farmland of Rutland County. Separated from New York state by Lake Champlain, this part of Vermont is known for its agricultural heritage, as cows and horses graze in open fields next to a mountainous backdrop. “It’s all very rural with dirt roads and lots of farms. A lot of people move here to raise their kids and be close to family,” says Amy Roy, principal of Benson Village School and area resident of more than 20 years. “We have people who live in trailers, but at the same time, we have multimillion-dollar homes. But these kids come together, and so do the parents.”
Historic homes sit on dozens of acres
Generational ties and ample acreage draw buyers to Benson. “The taxes are high, but the tradeoff is that, unless you want to go to Maine or something, it’s the last place you can have a whole lot of property for not a lot of money,” Roy says. Farmhouses and log cabins with wrap-around porches overlook open countryside or mountain ridges, and Cape Cods, Colonials and Greek Revival-style homes dot the area. Buyers can also find modest cottages and mobile homes. The median home price is about $360,000, lower than Orwell's median of $440,000 and Vergennes' median of about $420,000. However, homes rarely hit the market. It’s even rarer to find homes built within the last 50 years. “There are lots of protected lands, and there’s a lot of red tape here,” Roy says. “If you’re going up north towards Burlington and Essex, there are loads of new builds, but it’s really hard in these rural places. You’re renovating 200- or 250-year-old farmhouses, and a lot of these small towns have restrictions.”
Small class sizes at Benson Village School
Residents take pride in Benson Village School, the local elementary school that receives a B-minus grade from Niche. “We only have 100 students, and our class sizes range from 10 to 15 students,” Roy says. “We have small class sizes, but we offer all of the special classes that any large school would offer, like STEAM, music and art.” From there, students may attend Fair Haven Union Middle and High School, rated C-plus.
No shortage of outdoor activities in the Champlain Valley
Spanning 125 miles, Lake Champlain is the country’s sixth-largest lake and a jewel of the Adirondacks. “People use the lake all the time. There’s boating, fishing, swimming — it’s an integral part for anyone who lives in the area,” Roy says. “You can drive 10 minutes in any direction and you’ll be at a beautiful lake.” Pond Woods Wildlife Management Area has diverse habitats for hiking, hunting, fishing and trapping, and the 2-mile loop trail at Shaw Mountain winds through an oak-hickory forest and swamps. While Killington Resort is known for world-class skiing, the resort is open year-round for golfing, mountain biking and hiking. Closer to home, the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, or VAST, oversees snowmobile trails that run through town. “These are rural kids. They find their own adventure everywhere,” Roy says.
Casual bites in town and groceries in Rutland
Benson locals and visitors enjoy rotating blue plate specials and decadent desserts at The Wheel Inn. When the weather warms up, seasonal food stands spring into action. Willie’s BBQ slings brisket, ribs and pulled pork, while West Coast Tacos serves up Mexican fare. G&L General Store is a convenience store with a deli and two gas pumps. “It’s far removed from the main town centers, so it’s kind of hard to get to a grocery store,” says Lisa Friedman, a broker with Great American Dream Realty who has sold homes in the area. Shaw’s is the closest grocery store in Fair Haven, about 10 minutes south, andRutland has more options about 30 minutes away.
Family fun at the Benson Burdock Festival and Family Day
Residents come together every August for the Benson Burdock Festival and Family Day, a long-held tradition celebrating the namesake plant whose burs inspired a Swiss engineer to create Velcro. The event sports a different theme every year, but residents always look forward to tractor pulls, live music, local vendors and an annual parade.
Driving between Vermont and New York
Route 22A serves as the main thoroughfare for the area and connects to U.S. Route 4. Lake Champlain separates Vermont from New York, and it’s common for residents to travel back and forth for work, errands and entertainment. “I have teachers from New York here,” Roy says. Locals can hop on a ferry in Shoreham to get to Ticonderoga, New York. Ticonderoga and Whitehall also have Amtrak stations. It’s about 60 miles to Burlington and Burlington International Airport.
Written By
Leslie Klosterman
