What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holderness has the most expensive homes ($363k median).

Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).

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.

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

Measure	Holderness	Benson
People
Population	1,917Highest	784Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±7.4Lowest about the U.S. average	51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S.
	Benson and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Benson and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Holderness and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Benson and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,863±$45kHighest 34% above U.S.	$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average
	Holderness and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,100±$60kHighest 9% above U.S.	$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S.	$1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,923Lowest 26% above U.S.	$4,125Highest 32% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Benson and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.7%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	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Benson and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Holderness School District	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.