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Jackson vs Benson

121 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (40× in Benson) and rent (+31% in Benson).

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Jackson, MNKnown for its schoolsMinnesota · 3,287 people
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Benson, MNHomes around $188KMinnesota · 3,441 people
Swap order
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

JacksonKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 72%of MN districts Housing$207K typical home41% below the MN typical home HealthHealthier than 68%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Jackson →
BensonHomes around $188K
Housing$188K typical home46% below the MN typical home Outdoors#29 most trails in MN4.0 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves SchoolsBetter than 47%of MN districts All about Benson →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Trails40×
Benson has more miles of trail
Benson 4.0 miJackson 0.1 mi
Rent+31%
Rent runs higher in Benson
Benson $982Jackson $752
Street grid+89%
Benson has the more walkable street grid
Benson 79.3Jackson 41.9
Growth since 2010+6.7 pts
Benson has grown faster since 2010
Benson +7.4%Jackson +0.7%
Work from home+5.8 pts
More people work from home in Jackson
Jackson 8%Benson 2.2%
Jobs per worker+57%
Jackson is more of a job hub
Jackson 1.49Benson 0.95
★ What stands out · Report cards

Jackson places higher on 15 of 20 MN lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Minnesota ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
–JacksonNot graded A−BensonSafer than 77% of U.S. towns
Schools
B+JacksonBetter than 72% of districts in the state B−BensonBetter than 47% of districts in the state
Health
B+JacksonHealthier than 68% of U.S. towns C+BensonHealthier than 39% of U.S. towns
15Jackson
5Benson

Lists won, of 20 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Lowest depressionHealth · 273 towns #50#199 Most walkableOutdoors · 275 towns #158#39 Most new homesHousing · 239 towns #58#155 Fastest growingGrowth · 272 towns #229#125 Most conserved landOutdoors · 268 towns #231#137 HealthiestHealth · 273 towns #167#253 Fewest smokersHealth · 273 towns #117#202 Lowest obesityHealth · 273 towns #138#212

Left end = #1 in Minnesota. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Jackson’s rankings →

Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Jackson$1,270/mo
Typical home $207K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.03% · or rent about $752/mo · Housing →
Benson$1,140/mo
Typical home $188K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.97% · or rent about $982/mo · Housing →

The difference: $120 a month, about $1,500 a year, between Jackson and Benson.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
JacksonBenson
Snow a year49″43″
January low5°F1°F
July high81°F83°F
Growing season (days)153d151d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)58th69th
Outdoors & history
JacksonBenson
Trails0 mi4 mi
Conserved land1.3%4.7%
Settled18561870
National Register places23
Archive photos618
Famous people born here108
Community
JacksonBenson
Library hours a week43 hrs46 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

121 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

JacksonMNBensonMN
Jackson ↔ Benson121 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

JacksonBenson
People
Population 3,287Lowest 3,441Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +0.7%Lowest MN: +7.6% +7.4%Highest MN: +7.6%
Median age 42.2±3.3Highest 9% above MN 39.7±3.1Lowest about the MN average
Jackson and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 23%±3.8Lowest MN: 22.9% 24.3%±4.1Highest MN: 22.9%
Benson and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 21.7%±4.3Lowest MN: 17.3% 22.5%±4.2Highest MN: 17.3%
Benson and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 31.3%Lowest MN: 39.4% 31.4%Highest MN: 39.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.6%±1.9Lowest MN: 5.8% 7%±3.2Highest MN: 5.8%
Benson and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $70,223±$10kHighest 21% below MN $52,821±$9kLowest 41% below MN
Jackson and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $128,500±$22kLowest 61% below MN $156,000±$15kHighest 53% below MN
Benson and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $752±$152Lowest 41% below MN $982±$72Highest 23% below MN
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,323Lowest 61% below MN $1,516Highest 55% below MN
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 43.4%±15.5Lowest MN: 48.1% 59.4%±17.2Highest MN: 48.1%
Benson and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 11.8%Highest MN: 9.3% 9.8%Lowest MN: 9.3%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 67%Highest MN: 72.2% 61.8%Lowest MN: 72.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1961Highest 18 yrs older than MN 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than MN
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 16 minLowest 28% below MN 18 minHighest 23% below MN
Work from home 8%±3.8Highest MN: 17.6% 2.2%±1.7Lowest MN: 17.6%
Work in townworking residents 43.9%Highest 41.9%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 9.8 miHighest 1.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.49Highest 0.95Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Lakefield (5%)Torning Township (10%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in BensonFew work in Jackson
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1.3%Lowest 4.7%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.1 miLowest 4.0 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 1.3 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 6Highest 1Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 41.9Lowest 79.3Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #151 of 230 in MN#177 of 230 in MN
School district Region 6 and 8-SW/WC Service Coop · Jackson County Central School Dist.BENSON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town Jackson County Central Senior HighBenson Secondary
Students per teacherat that high school 15.9Highest 12.7Lowest
Minnesota average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Jackson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Jackson’s Town Square.

Benson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Benson’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Jackson and Benson

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Bordering Jackson

D
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Des Moines Township234 people · $256K homes
W
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Wisconsin Township170 people · $211K homes

Towns like Jackson

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Blue Earth3,165 people · $144K homes
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Ada1,833 people · $138K homes
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Breckenridge3,349 people · $145K homes
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Pipestone4,129 people · $114K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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