Compare towns
Bleecker vs Benson vs Minerva vs Newcomb
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 the oldest population (median age 59.7).
Benson has the most kids (16.5% under 18).
Minerva has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Newcomb has the shortest commute (17 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 | Minerva | Newcomb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 563 |
784 |
836Highest |
490Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 59.7±2.9Highest 53% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Lowest 33% above U.S. |
56.2±5.7 44% above U.S. |
59.1±10.1 52% above U.S. |
| Bleecker and Newcomb 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% |
10.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
9.4%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Minerva and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newcomb and Benson 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±$8k about the U.S. average |
$67,303±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$108,750±$25kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Newcomb and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $221,100±$61k 34% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$171,800±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$254,800±$47kHighest 23% below U.S. |
| Newcomb and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$286 33% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$784±$102Lowest 45% below U.S. |
— |
| Benson and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,893 25% above U.S. |
$4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$2,608 16% below U.S. |
$1,488Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.1%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±74.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Minerva 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88% U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±7.8Lowest 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 | 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.