Compare towns

Stockbridge vs Sheldon 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%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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.

MeasureStockbridgeSheldonBenson
People
Population
791
2,267Highest
784Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%
VT: +2.8%
-7.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
55.3±5.3Highest
28% above VT
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% 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%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23.7%±3.6Highest
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+
27.9%±3.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
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%Highest
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
32.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.1%±1.2Lowest
VT: 7%
2%±1.3
VT: 7%
7%±5.8Highest
VT: 7%
Benson and Sheldon 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
$78,533±$25k
3% 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
$283,500±$26kHighest
10% below VT
$272,400±$61k
14% below VT
$242,000±$26kLowest
24% below VT
Stockbridge and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,140±$126
8% below VT
$1,286±$379Highest
4% above VT
$1,113±$170Lowest
10% below VT
Sheldon and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,488Highest
11% below VT
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
$4,125
18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.3%±22
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
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%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
5.1%
VT: 10.1%
5.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85%
VT: 73.2%
89%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
17% above VT
25 minLowest
7% above VT
32 minHighest
35% above VT
Work from home
28.6%±12.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
13%±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 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 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.