Compare towns
Benson vs Braintree vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most expensive homes ($242k median).
Braintree has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
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 | Benson | Braintree | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
1,026Highest |
573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheffield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
| Benson and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
| Benson and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.