Compare towns
Benson vs Newcomb vs Wayne
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%).
Newcomb has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
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 | Newcomb | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
490Lowest |
1,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Lowest 33% above U.S. |
59.1±10.1 52% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Newcomb 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% |
9.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Wayne 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% |
31.4%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Newcomb 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% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newcomb and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$108,750±$25kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$90,938±$17k 13% above U.S. |
| Newcomb and Wayne 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. |
$254,800±$47k 23% below U.S. |
$266,700±$150kHighest 20% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Newcomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
— | $1,031±$304Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Benson and Wayne 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. |
$1,488Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$3,967 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Wayne 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Newcomb 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.