Compare towns
Benson vs Strafford 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 affordable homes ($242k median).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Orwell has the youngest population (median age 47.5).
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 | Strafford | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,372Highest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
| Benson and Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Strafford 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 3% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.