Compare towns
Benson vs Lancaster 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%).
Lancaster has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
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 | Lancaster | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
2,230Highest |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
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%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±13.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster 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% |
19.6%±4.7Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Lancaster 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 |
$66,765±$20kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$85,250±$29kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| West Haven 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. |
$200,500±$24kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$245,000±$34kHighest 26% below U.S. |
| West Haven and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$1,036±$221Lowest 27% below U.S. |
— |
| Benson and Lancaster 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. |
$4,225 35% above U.S. |
$4,485Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| 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.