Compare towns
Coventry vs Benson vs Orange vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Coventry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Coventry | Benson | Orange | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 917 |
784 |
957Highest |
573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.2 5% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
| Benson and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Coventry and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
27.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.5 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest 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 | $59,342±$3k 27% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
| Benson and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $197,900±$55k 37% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
| Benson and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $755±$108Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
| Orange and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,375 53% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 1.5%±27.7 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
28 minLowest 19% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.6%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Coventry School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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.