Compare towns
Hampton vs Benson vs Smithville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Smithville has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.6%).
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 | Hampton | Benson | Smithville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,145 |
784Lowest |
1,525Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±14.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
43.1±3.2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Benson and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Smithville and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$70,433±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Benson and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$173,200±$42k 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$889±$186Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$4,254Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±31.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithville and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Hampton 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.