Compare towns
Benson vs Sheldon vs Troy 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 most affordable homes ($230k median).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Troy has the highest household income ($88k).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 59.8).
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 | Troy | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 271Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,749 |
671 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7 30% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
59.8±3.5Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Wells and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±4.5 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% |
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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.6% 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% |
2.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Troy and Wells 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. |
$74,286±$31k 8% below 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. |
$268,600±$45k 19% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Wells 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. |
$2,588 17% below 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% |
30%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Troy and Wells 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest 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. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
43 minHighest 63% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.6%±2.5Lowest 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 | 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.