Compare towns
Benson vs Sutton vs Stowe 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Sutton | Stowe | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
790 |
5,285Highest |
791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
46.3±7.6Lowest 7% 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% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 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% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Sutton 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 |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT |
$77,109±$12k 5% below VT |
| Stowe 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±$26k 24% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$283,500±$26k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
— | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,140±$126 8% below VT |
| Stowe and Stockbridge 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 |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$4,488 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest 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% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.6%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Stockbridge and Stowe 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Stowe Town School District | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.