Compare towns
Benson vs Barton vs Orwell vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Barton has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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 | Barton | Orwell | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
730Lowest |
1,294 |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
40±5.5 7% below VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
| Benson and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$62,404±$16k 23% below VT |
| Benson and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$176,500±$14k 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$830±$116 33% below VT |
| Benson and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
18.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.