Compare towns
Benson vs Northfield vs Sheldon 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%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Northfield | Sheldon | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
5,920Highest |
2,267 |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below 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% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% 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 |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$316,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Shoreham and Northfield 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 |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,306±$335Highest 6% above VT |
| Shoreham and Sheldon 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 |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,713 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Benson 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— | — |
| 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.