Compare towns
Benson vs Fairlee 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 most people working from home (18.6%).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Fairlee | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,066 |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
| Fairlee and Benson 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Benson 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Benson and Fairlee 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 |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
| Orwell and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
| 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 18% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Fairlee 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | 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 |
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.