Compare towns
Benson vs Ira 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%).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Ira | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
381Lowest |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Ira 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Ira 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 |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% 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 |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Ira and Sheldon 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 |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 18% below VT |
$4,146Highest 18% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Ira 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school 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.