Compare towns
Orwell vs Hampton vs Whiting vs Benson
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 expensive homes ($336k median).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Hampton | Whiting | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
1,145 |
532Lowest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Benson and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$91,250±$38kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Orwell and Whiting 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. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,204±$519 15% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Whiting 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. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,227Highest 36% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest 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 | ||||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | 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 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.