Compare towns
Benson vs Stratton vs Shoreham vs Stockbridge
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 affordable homes ($242k median).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Shoreham has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (28.6%).
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 | Stratton | Shoreham | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
532Lowest |
1,269Highest |
791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
51.8±7.2 20% above VT |
55.3±5.3Highest 28% above VT |
| Stockbridge 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Stockbridge and Benson 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% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
36.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Shoreham 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$93,654±$23k 15% above VT |
$77,109±$12kLowest 5% below VT |
| Stratton and Shoreham 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$316,400±$34k about the VT average |
$283,500±$26k 10% below VT |
| Stratton and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,306±$335Highest 6% above VT |
$1,140±$126 8% below VT |
| Shoreham and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$4,713 6% below VT |
$4,488 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3 VT: 48.4% |
53.3%±22 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Stockbridge 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.6%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Stockbridge 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school 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.