Compare towns
Sheldon vs Benson vs Putney
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 most kids (23.7% under 18).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Benson | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
784Lowest |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% 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% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Putney and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
| Putney and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Sheldon and Benson 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 |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest 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 | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Putney 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None 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.