Compare towns
Benson vs Hardwick 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%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
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.
| Measure | Benson | Hardwick | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
2,965Highest |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
51.8±7.2 20% above VT |
| Benson and Shoreham 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% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest 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%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
36.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$93,654±$23kHighest 15% above VT |
| Shoreham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$316,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% 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 |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$4,713Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Hardwick 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% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.