Compare towns
Ira vs Putney vs Benson vs Sandgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Benson has the most kids (16.5% under 18).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
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 | Ira | Putney | Benson | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
2,622Highest |
784 |
435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
| Sandgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
| Putney and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
| Putney and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52 24% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
— |
| Benson and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146 18% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.