Compare towns
Benson vs Cornwall vs Orwell vs Fair Haven
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).
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Cornwall | Orwell | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,208 |
1,294 |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
| Benson and Cornwall 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% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Fair Haven 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% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Cornwall 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Fair Haven 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 |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Cornwall 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 |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Cornwall 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 |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Cornwall 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% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 15% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.