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Benson vs Superior

105 miles apart. The biggest differences: conserved land (+56.5 pts in Superior) and jobs per worker (3.8× in Benson).

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Benson, AZHomes around $254KArizona · 5,417 people
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Superior, AZAn outdoors townArizona · 2,535 people
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.

The biggest differences

Where they part ways

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

★ What stands out · Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

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

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $440 more a month in Benson

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.

Benson$1,470/mo
Typical home $254K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.67% · or rent about $783/mo · Housing →
Superior$1,040/mo
Typical home $186K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.39% · or rent about $881/mo · Housing →

The difference: $440 a month, about $5,200 a year, between Benson and Superior.

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
BensonSuperior
Snow a year1″0″
January low38°F44°F
July high94°F99°F
Growing season (days)264d342d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)87th81st
Outdoors & history
BensonSuperior
Conserved land12.1%68.6%
Settled1880—
National Register places93
Archive photos612
Famous people born here—3
Community
BensonSuperior
Library hours a week37 hrs38 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

105 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Benson ↔ Superior105 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.

BensonSuperior
People
Population 5,417Highest 2,535Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +4.9%Highest AZ: +11.9% -15.2%Lowest AZ: +11.9%
Median age 50.6±4.7Lowest 30% above AZ 53.4±2.5Highest 37% above AZ
Superior and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 19.3%±4.2Highest AZ: 21.6% 8.6%±2.9Lowest AZ: 21.6%
Age 65+ 31%±5.4Lowest AZ: 18.9% 34.8%±7.8Highest AZ: 18.9%
Superior and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 25.2%Highest AZ: 33.3% 19.2%Lowest AZ: 33.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.6%±1.9Lowest AZ: 6.2% 3.8%±2.1Highest AZ: 6.2%
Superior and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $49,346±$8kHighest 38% below AZ $45,030±$8kLowest 44% below AZ
Benson and Superior are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $148,900±$36kHighest 62% below AZ $140,400±$33kLowest 64% below AZ
Benson and Superior are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $783±$44Lowest 49% below AZ $881±$69Highest 43% below AZ
Superior and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $996Highest 47% below AZ $554Lowest 71% below AZ
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 61.9%±18.7Highest AZ: 51.4% 53.9%±30.2Lowest AZ: 51.4%
Benson and Superior are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 12.1%Lowest AZ: 12.5% 16.3%Highest AZ: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 59.5%Lowest AZ: 67.4% 68.8%Highest AZ: 67.4%
Typical home builtmedian year 1985Highest 7 yrs older than AZ 1952Lowest 40 yrs older than AZ
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 31 minHighest 23% above AZ 29 minLowest 15% above AZ
Work from home 8.3%±5Lowest AZ: 18.4% 10.2%±5Highest AZ: 18.4%
Superior and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 24.8%Highest 14.7%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 38.3 miLowest 43.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.42Highest 0.37Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Tucson (22%)Phoenix (16%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in SuperiorFew work in Benson
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 12.1%Lowest 68.6%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 30.1 miLowest 56.2 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.7 miLowest 5.0 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 9.7Lowest 18.3Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #38 of 117 in AZ#108 of 117 in AZ
School district Benson Unified School District (79226) · Cochise Technology District (79403)Cobre Valley Institute of Technology District (79391) · Superior Unified School District (4440)
High school in town Benson High SchoolSuperior Junior/Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school 13.7Highest 10.9Lowest
Arizona 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.

Benson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Benson’s Town Square.

Superior neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Superior’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Towns like Benson

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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