Compare towns
Benson vs Ryegate vs Sheffield
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%).
Ryegate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k 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 | Ryegate | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
1,059Highest |
573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
42±8 about the VT average |
| Benson and Sheffield 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% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Sheffield 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% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.1% VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Sheffield 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 |
$66,484±$15k 18% below VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
| Benson and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
| Benson and Ryegate 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 |
$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
| Benson and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,472 31% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Ryegate 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% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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.