Compare towns
Benson vs Orange vs Shoreham
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%).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Shoreham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Orange | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
7,573Highest |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.8±7.2 33% above U.S. |
| Benson and Shoreham 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Shoreham 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% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Shoreham 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% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Orange 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 |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$93,654±$23kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Shoreham 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. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$316,400±$34kHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,306±$335Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Shoreham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$4,713Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Orange 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Shoreham 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.