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Benson vs Ada

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

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Benson, MNHomes around $188KMinnesota · 3,441 people
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Ada, MNOne of the safest townsMinnesota · 1,833 people
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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.

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

Benson$1,140/mo
Typical home $188K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.97% · or rent about $982/mo · Housing →
Ada$1,110/mo
Typical home $181K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.10% · or rent about $746/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
BensonAda
Snow a year43″41″
January low1°F-1°F
July high83°F82°F
Growing season (days)151d143d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)69th31st
Outdoors & history
BensonAda
Trails4 mi1 mi
Conserved land4.7%0%
Settled18701874
National Register places33
Archive photos186
Famous people born here85
Community
BensonAda
Library hours a week46 hrs31 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.

BensonMNAdaMN
Benson ↔ Ada144 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.

BensonAda
People
Population 3,441Highest 1,833Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +7.4%Highest MN: +7.6% +1.9%Lowest MN: +7.6%
Median age 39.7±3.1Lowest about the MN average 39.8±3.4Highest 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%±4.1 MN: 22.9% 24.3%±2.4 MN: 22.9%
Age 65+ 22.5%±4.2Highest MN: 17.3% 18.5%±3.6Lowest 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+ 31.4%Highest MN: 39.4% 30.9%Lowest MN: 39.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 7%±3.2Lowest MN: 5.8% 7.3%±2.9Highest 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 $52,821±$9kLowest 41% below MN $64,091±$14kHighest 28% 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 $156,000±$15kHighest 53% below MN $137,800±$20kLowest 58% 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 $982±$72Highest 23% below MN $746±$110Lowest 42% below MN
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,516Highest 55% below MN $1,511Lowest 55% below MN
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 59.4%±17.2Highest MN: 48.1% 34.2%±15.2Lowest 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 9.8%Lowest MN: 9.3% 16.8%Highest MN: 9.3%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 61.8%Lowest MN: 72.2% 66.3%Highest MN: 72.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than MN 1963Highest 16 yrs older than MN
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 18 minHighest 23% below MN 16 minLowest 30% below MN
Work from home 2.2%±1.7Lowest MN: 17.6% 3.3%±2.2Highest 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 41.9%Highest 37.5%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 1.8 miLowest 15.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.95Highest 0.87Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Torning Township (10%)Fargo (10%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in AdaFew work in Benson
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 4.7%Highest 0%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 4.0 miHighest 0.8 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.3 miHighest 0.6 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Lowest 4Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 79.3Lowest 108Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #177 of 230 in MN—
School district BENSON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTAda-Borup-West Public Schools
High school in town Benson SecondaryAda-Borup-West Secondary
Students per teacherat that high school 12.7Lowest 12.8Highest
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.

Benson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Benson’s Town Square.

Ada neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Ada’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Benson and Ada

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Benson

T
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Torning Township402 people · $204K homes
S
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Six Mile Grove Township155 people · $238K homes
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Benson Township261 people · $256K homes

Towns like Benson

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Jackson3,287 people · $129K homes
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Glenwood2,633 people · $179K homes
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Roseau2,736 people · $164K homes
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Windom4,799 people · $170K 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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