Compare towns
Benson vs Orange vs Washington
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%).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
957 |
1,056Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
50.3±5.3Lowest 17% above VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
| Washington and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Washington 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 |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
| Benson and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
| Benson and Orange 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 |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
| Orange and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
28 minLowest 19% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Washington 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None 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.