Compare towns
Benson vs Orwell vs Randolph
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%).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
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 | Orwell | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,294 |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
| Benson and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| 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±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
| Benson and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
| Orwell and Randolph 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 |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
| 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 18% below VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,698Highest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Orwell 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 | — | — | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.