Compare towns
Benson vs Heath vs Rowe vs Shoreham
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 affordable homes ($242k median).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
Shoreham has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Heath | Rowe | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
765 |
453Lowest |
1,269Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
48.9±6.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
51.8±7.2 33% above U.S. |
| Heath 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% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Rowe and Shoreham 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% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath and Rowe 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% |
46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Heath 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 |
$98,750±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$69,583±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$93,654±$23k 16% above U.S. |
| Heath and Shoreham 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. |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$275,000±$41k 17% below U.S. |
$316,400±$34kHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Shoreham and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
— | $1,313±$576Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,306±$335 8% below U.S. |
| Rowe and Shoreham 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. |
$4,438 42% above U.S. |
$1,458Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$4,713Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±48.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Heath 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% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath 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 | — | Rowe | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None 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.