Compare towns
Benson vs Sheldon vs Bleecker 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).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Bleecker has the oldest population (median age 59.7).
Hope has the most affordable homes ($211k 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 | Sheldon | Bleecker | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 271Lowest |
2,267Highest |
563 |
587 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7 30% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
59.7±2.9Highest 53% 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Hope 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.5%±2.6Highest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hope and Sheldon 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. |
$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$74,732±$21k 7% below U.S. |
$72,188±$13k 11% below U.S. |
| Sheldon 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. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$221,100±$61k 34% below U.S. |
$211,300±$106kLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$950±$286Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,225±$217 13% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Hope 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. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,893Highest 25% above U.S. |
$2,551 18% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.1%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±98.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hope and Bleecker 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% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bleecker and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | — |
| 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.