Compare towns
Benson vs Bleecker vs Orwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Bleecker has the oldest population (median age 59.7).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Benson | Bleecker | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271Lowest |
563 |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7 30% above U.S. |
59.7±2.9Highest 53% above U.S. |
47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Bleecker and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±9.3 U.S.: 22% |
8.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.3%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bleecker and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orwell and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,375±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$74,732±$21kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22k 13% below U.S. |
| Bleecker and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,100±$15k 31% below U.S. |
$221,100±$61kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $950±$286Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Orwell and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$3,893 25% above U.S. |
$3,914Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.1%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orwell and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.