Compare towns
Benson vs Unity 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 kids (16.5% under 18).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Unity | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,375Highest |
791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Lowest 33% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
55.3±5.3 42% above U.S. |
| Unity and Stockbridge 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% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Unity 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Stockbridge 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% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$77,109±$12kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$283,500±$26kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Stockbridge and Unity 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. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,140±$126 19% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% 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%±100Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest 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 | Unity 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.