Compare towns
Benson vs Proctor vs Waterville 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%).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
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 | Proctor | Waterville | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,794Highest |
680Lowest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Benson and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest 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 |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.