Compare towns
Benson vs Cornwall vs Middlesex 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 renters (19.1% rent).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Cornwall | Middlesex | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,208 |
1,943Highest |
551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-17.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$64,180±$9kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Cornwall and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$191,500±$48kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Cornwall and Middlesex 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±$206 20% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,066±$109Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$3,138Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and Benson 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Cornwall 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.