Compare towns
Benson vs Stoddard 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 affordable homes ($242k median).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Shoreham has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Stoddard | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,072 |
1,269Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
51.8±7.2Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shoreham and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Shoreham 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% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Stoddard 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 |
$94,904±$11kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$93,654±$23k 16% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Shoreham 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. |
$330,300±$20kHighest about the U.S. average |
$316,400±$34k 5% below U.S. |
| Stoddard and Shoreham 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. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% 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 | $4,125Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,316 38% above U.S. |
$4,713Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Stoddard 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest 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 | Stoddard School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.