Compare towns
Benson vs Mount Tabor 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%).
Mount Tabor has the most expensive homes ($421k median).
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 | Mount Tabor | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
304Lowest |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
| Mount Tabor 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% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest 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% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor 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% |
34.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest 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±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
— | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Benson and Orwell 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 |
$420,500±$76kHighest 33% above VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Mount Tabor and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 18% below VT |
$5,233Highest 4% above VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
11%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Orwell 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 |
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.