Compare towns
Benson vs Warren 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 kids (16.5% under 18).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16%).
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 | Warren | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
1,585Highest |
551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-17.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Lowest 33% above U.S. |
53.1±4.2 37% above U.S. |
59±2.8Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Dresden and Warren 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% |
9.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Dresden 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% |
30.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Warren 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% |
60%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Warren 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 |
$86,905±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$64,180±$9kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Warren 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. |
$569,300±$123kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$191,500±$48kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,750±$394Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,066±$109Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$7,284Highest 134% above U.S. |
$3,138Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.3%±26.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Dresden 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% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.2%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — |
| 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.

