Compare towns
Barnet vs Benson vs Monroe vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Ryegate has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
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 | Barnet | Benson | Monroe | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
784Lowest |
786 |
1,059 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
51±10.4 31% above U.S. |
41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Benson and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±7.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ryegate and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15k 17% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$88,150±$7kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Monroe and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24k 25% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$312,700±$58kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Monroe and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 31% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
$908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Benson and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Highest 44% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$3,472 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±29.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Monroe School District | — |
| 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.