Compare towns
Benson vs Jericho vs Windham 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).
Jericho has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Jericho | Windham | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
5,114 |
19,188Highest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
49.7±5.1 28% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
| Benson and Jericho 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% |
19.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Jericho 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% |
20.2%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Windham 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 |
$116,923±$16kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Jericho and Windham 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. |
$493,100±$38kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,731±$111Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$7,318Highest 135% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
79.3%±52.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jericho and Orwell 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% |
0.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jericho and Windham 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 | — | #6 of 70 in VT | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | RSU 14 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.