Compare towns
Benson vs Warner vs Webster vs Orwell
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 affordable homes ($242k median).
Warner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Webster has the highest household income ($107k).
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 | Warner | Webster | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
2,959Highest |
2,227 |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
43.7±4Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Warner 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 |
$94,022±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Webster and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$353,100±$22kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30k about the U.S. average |
$335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Warner and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,219±$123 14% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Webster and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$7,650Highest 145% above U.S. |
$6,021 93% above U.S. |
$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±21.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Webster 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Webster 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District | Merrimack Valley School District | 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 |
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.