Compare towns
Benson vs Nelson 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).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Stockbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).
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 | Nelson | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
648Lowest |
791Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2Lowest 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% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Stockbridge 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 |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$77,109±$12kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$283,500±$26k 15% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,140±$126 19% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,488 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.6%±12.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Stockbridge 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 | Nelson 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.