Compare towns
Benson vs Johnson City 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 people working from home (18.6%).
Johnson City has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Shoreham has the most expensive homes ($316k median).
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 | Johnson City | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
14,940Highest |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
40.7±3.4Lowest 5% above U.S. |
51.8±7.2 33% above U.S. |
| Benson and Shoreham 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% |
18.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Johnson City and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Shoreham 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% |
29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnson City and Benson 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 |
$56,283±$4kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$93,654±$23kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Shoreham 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±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$117,100±$4kLowest 65% below U.S. |
$316,400±$34kHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,031±$66Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,306±$335Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Shoreham 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. |
$3,982Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,713Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Johnson City 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% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 38% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.2 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 |
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.