Compare towns
Benson vs Bleecker vs Shoreham 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%).
Shoreham has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | Shoreham | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
563Lowest |
1,269 |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% 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. |
51.8±7.2 33% 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 | 16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
8.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Shoreham 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%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.2%Highest 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%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$74,732±$21k 7% below U.S. |
$93,654±$23kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Shoreham and Benson 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±$61kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$316,400±$34k 5% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Orwell and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$950±$286Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,306±$335Highest 8% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Shoreham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,893Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,713Highest 51% above 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% |
33.3%±48.3 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% |
8.3% 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% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr 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. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Shoreham 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 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.