Compare towns
Orwell vs Benson vs Ticonderoga
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Ticonderoga has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Ticonderoga |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
784Lowest |
4,705Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
48.6±2.8 25% above U.S. |
| Benson and Ticonderoga 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% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Ticonderoga 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% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Ticonderoga 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson 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. |
$78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$65,481±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Benson 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 |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$176,200±$18kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$852±$38Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Benson 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. |
$4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$2,553Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.2%±11.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Orwell 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 | — | — | #378 of 484 in NY |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | TICONDEROGA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | TICONDEROGA JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.