What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).

Benson has the most affordable homes ($230k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Orwell	Benson
People
Population	1,294Highest	271Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S.	50.7±7.7Highest 30% 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	21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%	14.4%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Orwell and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	34.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Orwell and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,417±$22kHighest 13% below U.S.	$69,375±$13kLowest 14% below U.S.
	Orwell and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average	$230,100±$15kLowest 31% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,105±$51 22% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,914Highest 25% above U.S.	$2,528Lowest 19% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest 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	10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Orwell 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	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.