Compare towns
Benson vs Sandgate vs Wells
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 youngest population (median age 50.7).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Wells has the most expensive homes ($269k 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 | Sandgate | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271Lowest |
435 |
671Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7Lowest 30% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4 43% above U.S. |
59.8±3.5Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Wells and Sandgate 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% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells 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% |
26%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±7.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Wells 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% |
37.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,375±$13k 14% below U.S. |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$74,286±$31kHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Wells 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±$15k 31% below U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$268,600±$45kHighest 19% below U.S. |
| Wells 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. |
$2,778Highest 11% below U.S. |
$2,588 17% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
43 minHighest 63% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.