Compare towns
Benson vs Newcomb 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 people working from home (18.6%).
Newcomb has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Newcomb | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
490Lowest |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
59.1±10.1Highest 52% above U.S. |
47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Newcomb 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% |
9.4%±4.7Lowest 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% |
31.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newcomb 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% |
34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newcomb and Benson 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 |
$108,750±$25kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Newcomb 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. |
$254,800±$47k 23% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| 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 | $4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,488Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 |
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.