Compare towns
Benson vs Minerva vs Shoreham
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%).
Minerva has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Shoreham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Minerva | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
836 |
1,269Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
56.2±5.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
51.8±7.2Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Minerva 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% |
10.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shoreham and Benson 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% |
35.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Minerva 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 |
$67,303±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$93,654±$23kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Shoreham 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. |
$171,800±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$316,400±$34kHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$784±$102Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,306±$335Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Shoreham 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. |
$2,608Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$4,713Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±74.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±48.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Shoreham 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% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Shoreham 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.