Compare towns
Benson vs Wayne vs Windham 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).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.3%).
Shoreham has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Wayne | Windham | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,033 |
1,432Highest |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
56.5±5.1 45% above U.S. |
51.8±7.2Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Windham 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% |
12.3%±3 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shoreham 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% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Windham 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% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Windham 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 |
$90,938±$17k 13% above U.S. |
$76,477±$17kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$93,654±$23kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Shoreham and Wayne 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. |
$266,700±$150k 20% below U.S. |
$315,600±$74k 5% below U.S. |
$316,400±$34kHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Shoreham and Windham 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. |
$1,031±$304 27% below U.S. |
$850±$295Lowest 40% 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 | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,967 27% above U.S. |
$3,363Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$4,713Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.9%±35.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Windham 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 | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school 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.