Compare towns
Waterville vs Dummerston 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
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Waterville | Dummerston | Sheldon | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
2,090 |
2,267Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Dummerston and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Dummerston and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Dummerston and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 21% below VT |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 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.