Compare towns
Benson vs Orwell vs Warwick vs Waterville
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 oldest population (median age 51.9).
Orwell has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Warwick has the most people working from home (22.4%).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Warwick | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,294Highest |
776 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
51.4±7.3 32% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% 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% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Waterville 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% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$93,333±$22kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below 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±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
$349,400±$34kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Warwick and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,367±$163Highest 3% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% 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 | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,380Highest 40% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±57.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell 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% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
38 min 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Warwick | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.