Compare towns
Orwell vs Sheldon 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 expensive homes ($336k median).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
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 | Sheldon | Whiting | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294 |
2,267Highest |
532Lowest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Whiting 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest 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±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
| 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 10% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Sheldon and Whiting 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,227Highest 16% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest 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 |
25 min 7% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.