Compare towns
Benson vs Mendon vs Reading 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 renters (19.1% rent).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Mendon | Reading | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,113Highest |
699 |
551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-17.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Lowest 31% above U.S. |
59±2.8Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Dresden and Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading 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% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon and Reading 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% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Mendon 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 |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$64,180±$9kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Reading 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. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$191,500±$48kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Reading and Mendon 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. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,066±$109Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Mendon 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. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$3,138Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Reading 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Mendon 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| 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.