What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rumney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).

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	Rumney	Benson
People
Population	1,458Highest	784Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.3Lowest 14% above U.S.	51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S.
	Benson and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rumney and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Benson and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Benson and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,444±$21kHighest about the U.S. average	$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average
	Rumney and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,800±$37kHighest 7% below U.S.	$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S.	$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S.
	Benson and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,716Highest 51% above U.S.	$4,125Lowest 32% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.1%±21.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Benson and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	14.4%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Benson and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rumney School District	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	None 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.