Compare towns
Benson vs Ira vs Sutton 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%).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 46.6).
Shoreham has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | Sutton | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
381Lowest |
790 |
1,269Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
51.8±7.2 20% above 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% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shoreham and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±3.7 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
36.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest 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±$8k 3% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% 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±$26k 24% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$316,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Shoreham and Ira 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 |
— | $1,306±$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 | $4,125 18% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,713Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Sutton 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 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 | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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 | 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.