Compare towns
Stockbridge vs Sharon 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%).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Stockbridge | Sharon | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 791 |
1,577Highest |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.3±5.3Highest 28% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above 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%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Benson 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% |
25.1%±3.6Lowest 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% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,109±$12kLowest 5% below VT |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Sharon 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 |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$126 8% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
| Sharon 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 |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±22 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
26 minLowest 12% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.6%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Stockbridge and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Sharon School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.