Compare towns
Benson vs Chelsea vs Sheldon
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 people working from home (18.6%).
Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Chelsea | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,223 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Chelsea 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% |
29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea 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% |
29.6% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Benson and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$260,900±$39k 18% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Chelsea and Sheldon 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 |
$3,762 25% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Sheldon 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 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.