Compare towns
Benson vs Sheldon vs Jay vs Orwell
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 renters (19.1% rent).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k 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 | Sheldon | Jay | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
2,267Highest |
471Lowest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
| Jay 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Orwell 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Orwell 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Orwell 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Benson and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
| Orwell and Sheldon 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— | $1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
| Sheldon and Benson 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Benson 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.