Compare towns
Stockbridge vs Middlebury vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (28.6%).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Benson has the most kids (16.5% under 18).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Stockbridge | Middlebury | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 791 |
7,220Highest |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+10.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.3±5.3Highest 28% above VT |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Stockbridge and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Stockbridge and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35% VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,109±$12kLowest 5% below VT |
$86,250±$18kHighest 6% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Middlebury and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,500±$26k 10% below VT |
$417,400±$31kHighest 32% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$126 8% below VT |
$1,201±$120Highest about the VT average |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
| Middlebury and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,488 11% below VT |
$6,795Highest 35% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±22Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.6%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Stockbridge and Middlebury 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 | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | — | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.