Compare towns
Benson vs Lyndeborough vs Stockbridge
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).
Lyndeborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (28.6%).
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 | Lyndeborough | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,616Highest |
791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
50±3.2Lowest 29% above U.S. |
55.3±5.3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Stockbridge and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Lyndeborough 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% |
22.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stockbridge 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% |
40.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Lyndeborough 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 |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$77,109±$12kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$283,500±$26k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,140±$126 19% below U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Stockbridge 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. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,488 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.3%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.6%±12.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stockbridge 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 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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 |
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.