Compare towns
Benson vs Calais 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 most affordable homes ($242k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Orwell has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Calais | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,713Highest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
47.5±7 10% above 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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais 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% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 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% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Benson 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 |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Calais 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±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Calais 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 |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
| Calais 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.