Compare towns
Benson vs Poultney vs Stratton vs Orwell
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%).
Poultney has the most renters (43.3% rent).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Orwell has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Poultney | Stratton | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,033 |
532Lowest |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
31.5±4.1 27% below VT |
47.5±7 10% above 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% |
16.8%±5 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Orwell 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% |
21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 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% |
38.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$70,536±$11k 13% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$196,600±$43kLowest 38% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Stratton 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 10% below VT |
$868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
11.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 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 | — | #41 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.