Compare towns
Benson vs Cornwall vs Orwell vs Ripton
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).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,208 |
1,294Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above 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%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Cornwall 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% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
| Cornwall and Ripton 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 |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Cornwall and Ripton 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 |
$1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% 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 |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| 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% |
52.9%±100Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 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 |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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 |
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.