Compare towns
Benson vs Vershire vs Whitingham vs Shoreham
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%).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
Whitingham has the most homeowners (85.2%).
Shoreham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Vershire | Whitingham | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
842 |
1,368Highest |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
-7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
45.7±9.3Lowest 6% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
51.8±7.2 20% above VT |
| Benson and Shoreham 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% |
19.1%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham and Vershire 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% |
22.2%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham 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% VT: 43.8% |
31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
36.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Vershire 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 |
$71,618±$12k 12% below VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$93,654±$23kHighest 15% above VT |
| Shoreham 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 |
$209,100±$55kLowest 34% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$316,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Shoreham and Whitingham 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 |
$1,117±$80 9% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,306±$335Highest 6% above VT |
| Shoreham and Vershire 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 |
$4,640 8% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$4,713 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
77.8%±24.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Vershire and Whitingham 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% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.5% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
32 min 38% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Shoreham 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 | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
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| 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.