What stands out worked out from the figures below

Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).

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	Unity	Benson
People
Population	1,375Highest	784Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S.	51.9±9.4Lowest 33% above U.S.
	Unity and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Benson and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Unity and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Benson and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S.	$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average
	Unity and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S.	$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S.
	Unity and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S.
	Unity and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,394Highest 73% above U.S.	$4,125Lowest 32% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Benson and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Benson and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Unity 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.