Compare towns
Benson vs Colrain vs Sutton 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%).
Colrain has the highest household income ($81k).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Orwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
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 | Colrain | Sutton | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,627Highest |
790 |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7Lowest 20% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
| Benson and Colrain 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% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Sutton 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% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$71,250±$18k 12% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Colrain 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. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Lowest 22% 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 | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
$3,975 27% above U.S. |
$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 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 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3 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 | Mohawk Trail | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None 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.