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Ada vs Benson

144 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (5× in Benson) and rent (+32% in Benson).

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Ada, MNOne of the safest townsMinnesota · 1,833 people
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Benson, MNHomes around $188KMinnesota · 3,441 people
Swap order
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

AdaOne of the safest towns
SafetySafer than 94%of U.S. towns we grade Housing$181K typical home48% below the MN typical home HistorySettled in 18743 places on the National Register All about Ada →
BensonHomes around $188K
Housing$188K typical home46% below the MN typical home Outdoors#29 most trails in MN4.0 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves SchoolsBetter than 47%of MN districts All about Benson →
The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Trails5×
Benson has more miles of trail
Benson 4.0 miAda 0.8 mi
Rent+32%
Rent runs higher in Benson
Benson $982Ada $746
Growth since 2010+5.5 pts
Benson has grown faster since 2010
Benson +7.4%Ada +1.9%
★ What stands out · Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Minnesota ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
AAdaSafer than 94% of U.S. towns A−BensonSafer than 77% of U.S. towns
Schools
–AdaNot graded B−BensonBetter than 47% of districts in the state
Health
B−AdaHealthier than 54% of U.S. towns C+BensonHealthier than 39% of U.S. towns
Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Ada$1,110/mo
Typical home $181K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.10% · or rent about $746/mo · Housing →
Benson$1,140/mo
Typical home $188K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.97% · or rent about $982/mo · Housing →

Within $50 a month of each other.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
AdaBenson
Snow a year41″43″
January low-1°F1°F
July high82°F83°F
Growing season (days)143d151d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)31st69th
Outdoors & history
AdaBenson
Trails1 mi4 mi
Conserved land0%4.7%
Settled18741870
National Register places33
Archive photos618
Famous people born here58
Community
AdaBenson
Library hours a week31 hrs46 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

144 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

AdaMNBensonMN
Ada ↔ Benson144 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

AdaBenson
People
Population 1,833Lowest 3,441Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +1.9%Lowest MN: +7.6% +7.4%Highest MN: +7.6%
Median age 39.8±3.4Highest about the MN average 39.7±3.1Lowest about the MN average
Ada and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 24.3%±2.4 MN: 22.9% 24.3%±4.1 MN: 22.9%
Age 65+ 18.5%±3.6Lowest MN: 17.3% 22.5%±4.2Highest MN: 17.3%
Benson and Ada are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 30.9%Lowest MN: 39.4% 31.4%Highest MN: 39.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 7.3%±2.9Highest MN: 5.8% 7%±3.2Lowest MN: 5.8%
Ada and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $64,091±$14kHighest 28% below MN $52,821±$9kLowest 41% below MN
Ada and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $137,800±$20kLowest 58% below MN $156,000±$15kHighest 53% below MN
Benson and Ada are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $746±$110Lowest 42% below MN $982±$72Highest 23% below MN
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,511Lowest 55% below MN $1,516Highest 55% below MN
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 34.2%±15.2Lowest MN: 48.1% 59.4%±17.2Highest MN: 48.1%
Benson and Ada are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 16.8%Highest MN: 9.3% 9.8%Lowest MN: 9.3%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 66.3%Highest MN: 72.2% 61.8%Lowest MN: 72.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1963Highest 16 yrs older than MN 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than MN
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 16 minLowest 30% below MN 18 minHighest 23% below MN
Work from home 3.3%±2.2Highest MN: 17.6% 2.2%±1.7Lowest MN: 17.6%
Ada and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 37.5%Lowest 41.9%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 15.8 miHighest 1.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.87Lowest 0.95Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Fargo (10%)Torning Township (10%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in BensonFew work in Ada
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 4.7%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.8 miLowest 4.0 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.6 miLowest 1.3 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 4Highest 1Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 108Highest 79.3Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading —#177 of 230 in MN
School district Ada-Borup-West Public SchoolsBENSON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town Ada-Borup-West SecondaryBenson Secondary
Students per teacherat that high school 12.8Highest 12.7Lowest
Minnesota average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Ada neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Ada’s Town Square.

Benson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Benson’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Towns like Ada

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Jackson3,287 people · $129K homes
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Glenwood2,633 people · $179K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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