Compare towns

Benson vs Exeter vs Salisbury

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).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

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.

MeasureBensonExeterSalisbury
People
Population
784Lowest
913
1,200Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.9±9.4Highest
33% above U.S.
51.7±12.6
33% above U.S.
50.6±6.5Lowest
30% above U.S.
Benson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.5%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Salisbury 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%
30.4%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Salisbury 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%
34.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Benson and Salisbury 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
$77,550±$19kLowest
4% below U.S.
$99,688±$21kHighest
23% above U.S.
Salisbury 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±$26kLowest
27% below U.S.
$243,000±$89k
27% below U.S.
$306,900±$51kHighest
8% below U.S.
Salisbury and Exeter 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.
$867±$44Lowest
39% below U.S.
$1,443±$984Highest
about the U.S. average
Salisbury 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.
$2,926Lowest
6% below U.S.
$4,842Highest
55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.4%±35.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.9%±22.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Benson and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.4%±10.4
U.S.: 15.1%
6%±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 — 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

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.