Compare towns

Benson vs Danby vs Shoreham

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%).
Danby has the most homeowners (89.3%).
Shoreham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

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.

MeasureBensonDanbyShoreham
People
Population
784Lowest
1,133
1,269Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-2.1%
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.9±9.4
20% above VT
52.6±4.8Highest
22% above VT
51.8±7.2Lowest
20% above VT
Danby 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%
14.6%±3.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18%±4.7Highest
VT: 17.9%
Shoreham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.9%±4.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±2.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
26.1%±3.7
VT: 21.4%
Benson and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
34.8%
VT: 43.8%
36.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7%±5.8Highest
VT: 7%
2.5%±1.9
VT: 7%
1.7%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Benson and Danby 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
$77,321±$13kLowest
5% below VT
$93,654±$23kHighest
15% above VT
Shoreham 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±$26kLowest
24% below VT
$272,400±$41k
14% below VT
$316,400±$34kHighest
about the VT average
Shoreham and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,113±$170
10% below VT
$794±$166Lowest
36% below VT
$1,306±$335Highest
6% above VT
Shoreham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,125Lowest
18% below VT
$4,543
10% below VT
$4,713Highest
6% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.4%±35.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.4%±34.6
VT: 48.4%
33.3%±48.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Benson and Danby 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%
9.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
35% above VT
30 min
26% above VT
26 minLowest
11% above VT
Work from home
18.6%±5.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±5.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
15.9%±5.2
VT: 16.9%
Benson and Shoreham 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 Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
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.