Compare towns
Benson vs Hampton vs Shoreham 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 most people working from home (18.6%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Shoreham has the most expensive homes ($316k 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 | Shoreham | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,145 |
1,269Highest |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.8±7.2 33% above U.S. |
54±10.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| West Haven 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% |
15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±13.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Shoreham and West Haven 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% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Haven 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% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Hampton 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 |
$73,796±$8kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$93,654±$23kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$85,250±$29k 6% above U.S. |
| Shoreham and West Haven 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. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$316,400±$34kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$245,000±$34k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$1,306±$335Highest 8% below U.S. |
— |
| Shoreham and Hampton 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. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,713Highest 51% above U.S. |
$4,485 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±48.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Shoreham 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% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Shoreham 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 | 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.