Compare towns
Benson vs Sutton vs Cornwall 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 renters (19.1% rent).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Sutton | Cornwall | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
790 |
1,208 |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
| Benson and Cornwall 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% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Cornwall 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% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Cornwall 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% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Cornwall 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 |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Cornwall 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 24% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
— | $1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
| Cornwall 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 |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Cornwall 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% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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 |
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.