Guest, Sign inJoin
Compare towns

Superior vs Benson

105 miles apart. The biggest differences: conserved land (+56.5 pts in Superior) and jobs per worker (3.8× in Benson).

×
Superior, AZAn outdoors townArizona · 2,535 people
×
Benson, AZHomes around $254KArizona · 5,417 people
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.

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.

★ What stands out · Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

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

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $440 more a month in Benson

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.

Superior$1,040/mo
Typical home $186K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.39% · or rent about $881/mo · Housing →
Benson$1,470/mo
Typical home $254K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.67% · or rent about $783/mo · Housing →

The difference: $440 a month, about $5,200 a year, between Benson and Superior.

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
SuperiorBenson
Snow a year0″1″
January low44°F38°F
July high99°F94°F
Growing season (days)342d264d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)81st87th
Outdoors & history
SuperiorBenson
Conserved land68.6%12.1%
Settled—1880
National Register places39
Archive photos126
Famous people born here3—
Community
SuperiorBenson
Library hours a week38 hrs37 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

105 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Superior ↔ Benson105 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.

SuperiorBenson
People
Population 2,535Lowest 5,417Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -15.2%Lowest AZ: +11.9% +4.9%Highest AZ: +11.9%
Median age 53.4±2.5Highest 37% above AZ 50.6±4.7Lowest 30% above AZ
Superior and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 8.6%±2.9Lowest AZ: 21.6% 19.3%±4.2Highest AZ: 21.6%
Age 65+ 34.8%±7.8Highest AZ: 18.9% 31%±5.4Lowest AZ: 18.9%
Superior and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 19.2%Lowest AZ: 33.3% 25.2%Highest AZ: 33.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.8%±2.1Highest AZ: 6.2% 2.6%±1.9Lowest AZ: 6.2%
Superior and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $45,030±$8kLowest 44% below AZ $49,346±$8kHighest 38% below AZ
Benson and Superior are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $140,400±$33kLowest 64% below AZ $148,900±$36kHighest 62% below AZ
Benson and Superior are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $881±$69Highest 43% below AZ $783±$44Lowest 49% below AZ
Superior and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $554Lowest 71% below AZ $996Highest 47% below AZ
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 53.9%±30.2Lowest AZ: 51.4% 61.9%±18.7Highest AZ: 51.4%
Benson and Superior are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 16.3%Highest AZ: 12.5% 12.1%Lowest AZ: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 68.8%Highest AZ: 67.4% 59.5%Lowest AZ: 67.4%
Typical home builtmedian year 1952Lowest 40 yrs older than AZ 1985Highest 7 yrs older than AZ
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 29 minLowest 15% above AZ 31 minHighest 23% above AZ
Work from home 10.2%±5Highest AZ: 18.4% 8.3%±5Lowest AZ: 18.4%
Superior and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 14.7%Lowest 24.8%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 43.8 miHighest 38.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.37Lowest 1.42Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Phoenix (16%)Tucson (22%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in BensonFew work in Superior
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 68.6%Highest 12.1%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 56.2 miHighest 30.1 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 5.0 miHighest 0.7 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 2Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 18.3Highest 9.7Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #108 of 117 in AZ#38 of 117 in AZ
School district Cobre Valley Institute of Technology District (79391) · Superior Unified School District (4440)Benson Unified School District (79226) · Cochise Technology District (79403)
High school in town Superior Junior/Senior High SchoolBenson High School
Students per teacherat that high school 10.9Lowest 13.7Highest
Arizona 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.

Superior neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Superior’s Town Square.

Benson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Benson’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Superior and Benson

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Towns like Superior

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.

Post to Superior

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in