Compare towns
Benson vs Ira vs Sutton
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%).
Ira has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
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 | Ira | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
381Lowest |
2,239Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Lowest 24% 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Benson 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% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Sutton 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 |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest 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% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Sutton 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 | — | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.