Compare towns
Benson vs Reading vs Worcester 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).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Worcester has the youngest population (median age 47).
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 | Reading | Worcester | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
699 |
831Highest |
551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-17.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1 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%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Dresden 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% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest 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%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Worcester 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 |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$64,180±$9kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Reading 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. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$191,500±$48kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,066±$109 25% below U.S. |
| Benson and Reading 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. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% 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% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Benson 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Reading 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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 | 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.