Compare towns
Sandgate vs Benson vs Wheelock
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 expensive homes ($242k median).
Wheelock has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
784Highest |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
51±5.6Lowest 18% above VT |
| Sandgate and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock and Benson 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% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock 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% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
| Benson and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31k 39% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Benson and Sandgate 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 |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$2,937 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 16% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Wheelock 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.