Compare towns
Benson vs Exeter vs Ripton 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%).
Exeter has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Orwell has the youngest population (median age 47.5).
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 | Exeter | Ripton | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
913 |
508Lowest |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Benson and Exeter 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% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Orwell 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% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Ripton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% 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. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Ripton 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 |
| 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 |
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.