Compare towns
Sandgate vs Benson vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Benson has the most kids (16.5% under 18).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k 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 | Sandgate | Benson | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435 |
784Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
51.9±9.4Lowest 20% above VT |
54.1±5.5 26% 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 | 13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest 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+ | 37.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Benson and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Ira and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% 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 | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$4,146Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 16% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.