Compare towns
Benson vs Hampton Falls 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 affordable homes ($242k median).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Orwell has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Hampton Falls | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
2,328Highest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Benson and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Hampton Falls 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% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Hampton Falls 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 about the U.S. average |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | Hampton Falls 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 |
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.