Compare towns
Orwell vs Enosburgh vs Shoreham 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%).
Enosburgh has the youngest population (median age 40.6).
Shoreham has the highest household income ($94k).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Enosburgh | Shoreham | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294 |
2,804Highest |
1,269 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
51.8±7.2 20% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Enosburgh 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% |
17.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% VT: 43.8% |
20.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Enosburgh 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 |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
$93,654±$23kHighest 15% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Shoreham 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 |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
$316,400±$34k about the VT average |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| 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±$51 10% below VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,306±$335Highest 6% above VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Shoreham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 22% below VT |
$3,624Lowest 28% below VT |
$4,713Highest 6% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Shoreham 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 | — | #26 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.