Compare towns
Stockbridge vs Sheldon vs Benson vs Bridgewater
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 renters (19.1% rent).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k 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 | Sheldon | Benson | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 791 |
2,267Highest |
784Lowest |
980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.3±5.3 28% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Stockbridge 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% |
12.8%±5.8 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%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Stockbridge 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,109±$12k 5% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% 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±$26k 24% below VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% 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±$170 10% below VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±22 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% 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 |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 28.6%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest 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 | 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.