What stands out worked out from the figures below

Benson has the most people working from home (9.6%).

Salisbury has the highest household income ($100k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Benson	Salisbury
People
Population	271Lowest	1,200Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+7.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.7±7.7Highest 30% above U.S.	50.6±6.5Lowest 30% above U.S.
	Benson and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.4%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Salisbury 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%	30.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Benson and Salisbury 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%	34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	1.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salisbury 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.	$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$230,100±$15kLowest 31% below U.S.	$306,900±$51kHighest 8% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,443±$984 about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,528Lowest 19% below U.S.	$4,842Highest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	31.9%±22.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salisbury and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	19 minLowest 29% below U.S.
Work from home	9.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Benson and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.