Compare towns
Benson vs Ferrisburgh vs Sutton 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%).
Ferrisburgh has the highest household income ($107k).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Orwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
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 | Ferrisburgh | Sutton | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
2,661Highest |
790 |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.6% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
45.5±4.9Lowest 6% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
| Benson and Orwell 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% |
17.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Sutton 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% |
23.3%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Orwell 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% |
51.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Orwell 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 |
$106,989±$22kHighest 32% above VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Ferrisburgh 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 |
$422,700±$35kHighest 34% above VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,435±$173Highest 16% above VT |
— | $1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
| Ferrisburgh 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 |
$6,120Highest 21% above VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Ferrisburgh 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.3% VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Ferrisburgh 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 | — | #7 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.