Compare towns
Benson vs Proctor 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 expensive homes ($230k median).
Proctor has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Esperance has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Proctor | Esperance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271 |
1,794Highest |
248Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
48.6±11.9 25% above U.S. |
| Benson and Esperance 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% |
21.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.7%±11Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Proctor and Benson 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% |
22.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%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% |
3.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Proctor 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. |
$74,167±$12kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$73,333±$6k 9% below U.S. |
| Proctor 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±$15kHighest 31% below U.S. |
$209,900±$17k 37% below U.S. |
$191,700±$46kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Benson and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
$4,276Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Esperance and Proctor 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% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Esperance and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | — |
| High school in town | — | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.