Compare towns
Benson vs Leyden vs Chelsea
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%).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Leyden | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
637Lowest |
1,223Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Lowest 33% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2 37% above U.S. |
54.1±12.1Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Chelsea and Leyden 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% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chelsea and Leyden 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% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Chelsea 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 |
$105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$65,913±$13kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$260,900±$39k 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,524±$467 8% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Chelsea 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. |
$4,651Highest 49% above U.S. |
$3,762Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.3%±33.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chelsea 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% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Chelsea 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 | — | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| 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.