Compare towns
Benson vs Johnson 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%).
Johnson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (85%).
Shoreham has the most expensive homes ($316k median).
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 | Johnson | Sutton | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
3,450Highest |
790 |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
46.6±5.7 8% 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%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and Shoreham 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% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 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% VT: 43.8% |
32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
36.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Johnson and Benson 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 |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$71,250±$18k 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 |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$316,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$948±$45Lowest 23% 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 |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$4,713Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Johnson 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% |
12.2% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #57 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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 | 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.