Compare towns
Waterville vs Sheffield 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%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Sheffield | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680 |
573Lowest |
784Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
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%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Sheffield 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% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$967±$79Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
30 minLowest 28% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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.