Compare towns
Benson vs Smithville 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 highest household income ($79k).
Smithville has the most affordable homes ($173k median).
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 | Smithville | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,525Highest |
791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
43.1±3.2Lowest 11% 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% |
16.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Smithville 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% |
16.1%±3.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$70,433±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$77,109±$12k 4% below U.S. |
| Benson and Stockbridge 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. |
$173,200±$42kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$283,500±$26kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Stockbridge and Benson 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. |
$889±$186Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,140±$126Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Stockbridge and Benson 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. |
$4,254 36% above U.S. |
$4,488Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±31.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.3%±22Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithville and Benson 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.6%±12.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stockbridge and Benson 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 | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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.