Compare towns
Benson vs Heath 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).
Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Heath | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
765Lowest |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Heath 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath 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% |
46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$98,750±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Heath 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±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Orwell and Heath 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. |
— | $1,105±$51Lowest 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. |
$4,438Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% 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. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school 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.