Compare towns
Benson vs Bleecker vs Walden vs Hope
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1966).
Bleecker has the oldest population (median age 59.7).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Hope has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
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 | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 271Lowest |
563 |
1,037Highest |
587 |
| 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±3.2Lowest 25% above U.S. |
50.3±8.5 29% 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%±9.3 U.S.: 22% |
8.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Benson 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% |
23.7%±10.2 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Hope 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. |
$72,188±$13k 11% 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. |
$211,300±$106kLowest 36% 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±$286 33% below U.S. |
$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,225±$217Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Hope and Bleecker 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. |
$3,944Highest 26% above U.S. |
$2,551 18% below 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% |
61.9%±98.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hope 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% |
17.5%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% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 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 |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Bleecker 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.