Compare towns
Benson vs Northfield vs Sutton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.7%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (85%).
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 | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
5,920Highest |
790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
| Benson and Sutton 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% |
17.3%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Benson 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%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Sutton 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% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
| Benson and Northfield 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 |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
| Northfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
— |
| Benson and Northfield 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 |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Northfield 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.