Compare towns
Sheldon vs Belvidere vs Benson vs Enosburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Belvidere has the highest household income ($82k).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k 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 | Sheldon | Belvidere | Benson | Enosburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
422Lowest |
784 |
2,804Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
40.7±6.5 6% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
| Benson and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$81,563±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
| Belvidere and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$239,200±$51k 24% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
| Sheldon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
| Belvidere and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
32 min 36% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Sheldon 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 | — | — | — | #26 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.