Compare towns
Benson vs Marshfield vs Sutton vs Dresden
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%).
Marshfield has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Dresden has the oldest population (median age 59).
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 | Marshfield | Sutton | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
470Lowest |
790Highest |
551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -11.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-17.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
42.4±8.8Lowest 9% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7 20% above U.S. |
59±2.8Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Dresden 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% |
19.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Marshfield and Sutton 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% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dresden 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Marshfield 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 |
$84,375±$20kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$71,250±$18k 12% below U.S. |
$64,180±$9kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Marshfield 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±$26kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$178,300±$31kLowest 46% below U.S. |
$231,100±$41k 31% below U.S. |
$191,500±$48k 42% below U.S. |
| Benson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,125±$79Highest 20% below U.S. |
— | $1,066±$109Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Marshfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,269 5% above U.S. |
$3,975 27% above U.S. |
$3,138Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±62.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Marshfield 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% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Marshfield 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 | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.