Compare towns
Sheffield 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
Sheffield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3%).
Benson has the most expensive homes ($242k median).
Wheelock has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Sheffield | Benson | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 573Lowest |
784Highest |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8Lowest about the VT average |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
| Benson and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4Lowest 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+ | 27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest 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 | $58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
| Benson and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$189,600±$37k 40% below VT |
| Benson and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $967±$79Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
— |
| Benson and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$2,937 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 6.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 28% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.