Compare towns
Orwell vs Benson vs Walden
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 oldest population (median age 50.7).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Orwell | Benson | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
271Lowest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
50.7±7.7Highest 30% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
| Benson and Walden 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%±9.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest 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%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Orwell 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. |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Walden 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. |
$238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
— | $900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 25% above U.S. |
$2,528Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$3,944Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Walden 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% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min 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% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden 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 | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.