Compare towns
Benson vs Orwell vs Wayne vs Fair Haven
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%).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Fair Haven 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 | Wayne | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,294 |
1,033 |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Wayne and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Fair Haven 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±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$90,938±$17kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Wayne 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±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$266,700±$150k 20% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Orwell and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,031±$304 27% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Benson and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
$3,967 27% above U.S. |
$3,865Lowest 24% 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% |
38.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.