What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bath has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bath	Benson
People
Population	1,097Highest	784Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.6±8.6Lowest 25% above U.S.	51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S.
	Benson and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%	16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bath and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Benson and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Benson and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,813±$22kLowest 16% below U.S.	$78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average
	Benson and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$234,400±$23kLowest 30% below U.S.	$242,000±$26kHighest 27% below U.S.
	Benson and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,438±$309Highest about the U.S. average	$1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S.
	Bath and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,413Highest 41% above U.S.	$4,125Lowest 32% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	5.9%±61.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Benson and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Benson and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Bath School District	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.