Compare towns
Benson vs Dummerston vs Plainfield 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
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Dummerston | Plainfield | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
2,090Highest |
1,314 |
551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-17.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% 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% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Benson 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% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest 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% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Plainfield 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 |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$64,180±$9kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Benson 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. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$191,500±$48kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Plainfield 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. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,066±$109Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,806Highest 54% 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% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | — |
| 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.