Compare towns
Benson vs Cornwall vs Exeter vs Mendon
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 renters (19.1% rent).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Cornwall | Exeter | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,208Highest |
913 |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6Lowest 30% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Cornwall 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% |
25.7%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,125±$206 20% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Cornwall 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. |
$6,726Highest 116% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall and Mendon 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | — |
| 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.