Compare towns
Orwell vs Benson vs Shoreham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Shoreham has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | Orwell | Benson | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
271Lowest |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
50.7±7.7 30% above U.S. |
51.8±7.2Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Shoreham and Benson 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% |
18%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Shoreham 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% |
26.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.2%Highest 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% |
1.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orwell and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$69,375±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$93,654±$23kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Shoreham and Orwell 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. |
$316,400±$34k 5% below U.S. |
| Orwell and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,306±$335Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Shoreham and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 25% above U.S. |
$2,528Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$4,713Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±48.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Shoreham 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shoreham and Orwell 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.