Compare towns
Benson vs Orange vs Warwick
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 shortest commute (32 min average).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Warwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
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 | Warwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
7,573Highest |
776Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.4±7.3 32% above U.S. |
| Benson and Warwick 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Benson 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% |
23.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Warwick 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% |
40.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Warwick 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. |
$93,333±$22kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Warwick 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. |
$349,400±$34kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,367±$163Highest 3% below U.S. |
| Warwick 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. |
$4,380Highest 40% 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%±57.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Warwick and Benson 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 | Warwick |
| 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.