Compare towns

Benson vs Sheldon vs Troy

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 population (median age 50.7).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Troy has the highest household income ($88k).

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.

MeasureBensonSheldonTroy
People
Population
271Lowest
2,267Highest
1,749
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-2.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.7±7.7Highest
30% above U.S.
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% above U.S.
44.5±5.7
14% above U.S.
Benson and Troy 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%
23.7%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Sheldon and Troy 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%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
14.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.1%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Troy 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±$25k
about the U.S. average
$87,938±$11kHighest
9% above U.S.
Troy and Sheldon 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.
$272,400±$61kHighest
18% below U.S.
$233,200±$21k
30% below U.S.
Sheldon and Troy 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.
$646±$323Lowest
54% below U.S.
Sheldon and Troy 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.
$3,644Highest
17% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.8%±26.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Troy 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%
5.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
89%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
25 min
5% below U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
9.6%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sheldon and Benson 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 Troy School District
High school in town — None 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.