Compare towns
Orange vs Ira vs Benson vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the youngest population (median age 50.3).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Washington has the most homeowners (94.4%).
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 | Orange | Ira | Benson | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957 |
381Lowest |
784 |
1,056Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Lowest 17% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
52.9±5.1 23% above VT |
| Ira and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
| Benson and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
| Ira and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$996±$285 19% below VT |
| Orange and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 30% below VT |
$4,146Highest 18% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 19% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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 | 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.