Compare towns
Benson vs Bleecker vs Walden vs Esperance
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most kids (14.4% under 18).
Bleecker has the oldest population (median age 59.7).
Walden has the highest household income ($88k).
Esperance has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Benson | Bleecker | Walden | Esperance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 271 |
563 |
1,037Highest |
248Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7 30% above U.S. |
59.7±2.9Highest 53% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
48.6±11.9Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Bleecker and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±9.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
9.7%±11 U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.3%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bleecker and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,375±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$74,732±$21k 7% below U.S. |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$73,333±$6k 9% below U.S. |
| Walden and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,100±$15k 31% below U.S. |
$221,100±$61k 34% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23kHighest 28% below U.S. |
$191,700±$46kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Walden and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $950±$286Highest 33% below U.S. |
$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
— |
| Bleecker and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$3,893 25% above U.S. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
$4,276Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.1%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Esperance and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Esperance 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 | — |
| High school 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.