Compare towns

Plainfield vs Benson vs Jasper

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
Benson has the most expensive homes ($242k median).
Jasper has the most kids (33.6% 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.

MeasurePlainfieldBensonJasper
People
Population
1,016
784Lowest
1,308Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-7.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
34.5±6.6Lowest
11% below U.S.
51.9±9.4Highest
33% above U.S.
37.3±7.4
4% below U.S.
Benson and Jasper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.6%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
33.6%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
14.5%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
32.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
25.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
14.9%±11.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
7%±5.8
U.S.: 6.4%
0.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,673±$6kLowest
12% below U.S.
$78,625±$8k
about the U.S. average
$80,588±$7kHighest
about the U.S. average
Jasper and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$155,100±$17k
53% below U.S.
$242,000±$26kHighest
27% below U.S.
$123,600±$13kLowest
63% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$750±$207
47% below U.S.
$1,113±$170Highest
21% below U.S.
$658±$149Lowest
53% below U.S.
Benson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,667
14% below U.S.
$4,125Highest
32% above U.S.
$2,250Lowest
28% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.6%±43.5
U.S.: 51.1%
53.4%±35.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
35.7%±54.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Benson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
11% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
Work from home
11.5%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.2%±7
U.S.: 15.1%
Benson and Jasper 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.