Compare towns
Benson vs Jay 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 renters (13.3% rent).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Jay | Esperance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271 |
471Highest |
248Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7 30% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
48.6±11.9Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
9.7%±11Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jay and Benson 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. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$73,333±$6k 9% below U.S. |
| Jay and Esperance 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. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$191,700±$46kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Jay and Benson 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. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,276Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Esperance and Jay 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Esperance are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.