Compare towns
Benson vs Walden vs German
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).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
German has the most affordable homes ($113k 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 | Walden | German |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271Lowest |
1,037Highest |
274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7 30% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Lowest 25% above U.S. |
53.8±5.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
| German 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% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| German 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% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.7%±7.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and German 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% |
26.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and German 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. |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$67,813±$11kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Walden 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. |
$238,900±$23kHighest 28% below U.S. |
$112,500±$15kLowest 66% below U.S. |
| Walden and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $900±$136Highest 36% below U.S. |
$817±$260Lowest 42% below U.S. |
| Walden and German are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528 19% below U.S. |
$3,944Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,844Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walden and German are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
43 minHighest 62% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — |
| High school 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.