Compare towns
Benson vs Exeter vs Ira
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 people working from home (18.6%).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k 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 | Exeter | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
913Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Lowest 33% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Ira 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% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira 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% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Ira 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 |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Benson and Exeter 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. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Ira and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$942±$52 33% below U.S. |
| Benson and Ira 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. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Ira 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Exeter 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.