Compare towns
Sheldon vs Ira vs Benson
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).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Ira | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
381Lowest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Ira and Benson 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 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% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 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+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest 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 | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
| Benson and Sheldon 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 |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
| Ira 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 |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% 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 |
$4,146Highest 18% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest 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 | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | 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.