Compare towns
Benson vs Williston vs Putnam 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Putnam has the most homeowners (95.9%).
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 | Williston | Putnam | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
10,144Highest |
540Lowest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Williston and Putnam 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. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
— | $1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Benson 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | PUTNAM CENTRAL 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.