Compare towns
Benson vs Bleecker vs Minerva 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 most people working from home (18.6%).
Bleecker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Minerva has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k 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 | Benson | Bleecker | Minerva | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
563Lowest |
836 |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
59.7±2.9Highest 53% above U.S. |
56.2±5.7 44% above U.S. |
47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Bleecker and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
8.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±4.3 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+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Minerva and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Minerva 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 about the U.S. average |
$74,732±$21k 7% below U.S. |
$67,303±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22k 13% below U.S. |
| Benson and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$221,100±$61k 34% below U.S. |
$171,800±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$950±$286 33% below U.S. |
$784±$102Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
| 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 32% above U.S. |
$3,893 25% above U.S. |
$2,608Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±74.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Orwell 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 | — | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.