Compare towns
Orwell vs Windsor 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).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Whiting has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Windsor | Whiting | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294 |
3,554Highest |
532Lowest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
44.8±6.5 4% above 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% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor 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% |
39.7%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% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest 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 |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% 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 |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 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±$51 10% below VT |
$1,026±$89Lowest 17% 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 |
$5,209Highest 3% above 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% |
31.5%±17Lowest 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% |
7.8% 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% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| 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 | 12 photos → | 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.