Compare towns
Benson vs Athens vs Dresden
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 kids (16.5% under 18).
Athens has the most renters (26.3% rent).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Athens | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Highest |
431Lowest |
551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -17.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
47.3±6.5Lowest 22% above U.S. |
59±2.8Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Dresden and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dresden and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$68,438±$30k 15% below U.S. |
$64,180±$9kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Benson and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$240,400±$32k 28% below U.S. |
$191,500±$48kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Benson and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,125±$537Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,066±$109Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Athens and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$5,438Highest 74% above U.S. |
$3,138Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — |
| 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.