Compare towns
Benson vs Hampton Beach vs West Haven
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 youngest population (median age 51.9).
Hampton Beach has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
West Haven has the most homeowners (90.3%).
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 | Hampton Beach | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
2,605Highest |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Lowest 33% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
54±10.5 39% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and West Haven 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% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±13.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| West Haven 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and West Haven 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% |
34%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$82,557±$17k about the U.S. average |
$85,250±$29kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| West Haven and Hampton Beach 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. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$245,000±$34k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Hampton Beach and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,485 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | — | — |
| 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.