Compare towns
Benson vs Corinth vs Waterville 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 population (median age 51.9).
Corinth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.4%).
Waterville has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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 | Corinth | Waterville | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,539Highest |
680Lowest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
48.4±9.6 12% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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% |
16.8%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Waterville 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% |
27.3%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Corinth 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.3% VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
$89,167±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Corinth 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 24% below VT |
$213,800±$34kLowest 32% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,267±$510Highest about the VT average |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
| Corinth and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,584Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
17.9%±29.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 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% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
35 min 49% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
23%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Corinth 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 | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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.