Compare towns
Benson vs Braintree vs Peru vs Orwell
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Braintree | Peru | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,026 |
434Lowest |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
| Braintree 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 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| 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 3% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Peru and Braintree 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 |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Peru and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
| Peru and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 18% below VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,914 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Benson 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | 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 |
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.