Compare towns
Orwell vs Dover vs Whiting vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Dover has the most people working from home (23.2%).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k 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.
| Measure | Orwell | Dover | Whiting | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294 |
1,466Highest |
532Lowest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Dover and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Whiting 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 VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Whiting 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 6% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
| Orwell and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Whiting and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None 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.