Compare towns
Bleecker vs Benson vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bleecker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Ashland has the shortest commute (25 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 | Bleecker | Benson | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 563Lowest |
784Highest |
701 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.7±2.9Highest 53% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Lowest 33% above U.S. |
55.2±6.8 42% above U.S. |
| Bleecker and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.2%±8.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bleecker and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,732±$21k 7% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$69,583±$23kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Benson and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $221,100±$61kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$247,300±$47kHighest 26% below U.S. |
| Ashland and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$286Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,140±$135Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Ashland and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,893Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$4,340Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.3%±41.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Bleecker 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 | — |
| High school 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.