Compare towns

Warner vs Ira vs Benson

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Warner has the most expensive homes ($353k median).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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.

MeasureWarnerIraBenson
People
Population
2,959Highest
381Lowest
784
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-7.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±4Lowest
12% above U.S.
54.1±5.5Highest
39% above U.S.
51.9±9.4
33% above U.S.
Ira and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.3%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
10.5%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Warner and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.9%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Ira and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
32.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Benson and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,022±$18kHighest
16% above U.S.
$71,827±$5kLowest
11% below U.S.
$78,625±$8k
about the U.S. average
Warner and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,100±$22kHighest
6% above U.S.
$272,900±$18k
18% below U.S.
$242,000±$26kLowest
27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,219±$123Highest
14% below U.S.
$942±$52Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,113±$170
21% below U.S.
Warner and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,650Highest
145% above U.S.
$4,146
33% above U.S.
$4,125Lowest
32% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.7%±21.3
U.S.: 51.1%
36.4%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.4%±35.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Benson and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
14.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
16.6%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Benson and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Kearsarge Regional 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 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.