What stands out worked out from the figures below

Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

Benson has the most kids (16.5% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Heath	Benson
People
Population	765Lowest	784Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S.	51.9±9.4Lowest 33% above U.S.
	Heath and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Benson and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Heath and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Benson and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,750±$23kHighest 22% above U.S.	$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average
	Heath and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,000±$45kHighest 11% below U.S.	$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S.
	Heath and Benson 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.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,438Highest 42% above U.S.	$4,125Lowest 32% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Benson and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Heath and Benson 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

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.