Compare towns
Benson vs Ogunquit vs Randolph vs Dresden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Randolph has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Randolph | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,379 |
4,843Highest |
551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-17.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S. |
59±2.8 52% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Dresden 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Randolph 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Randolph 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$64,180±$9kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$191,500±$48kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
— | $1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,066±$109Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Benson 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,698Highest 51% above U.S. |
$3,138Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Randolph Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
— |
| 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.