Compare towns
Wayne vs Benson vs Jerusalem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Jerusalem has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
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.
| Measure | Wayne | Benson | Jerusalem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,033 |
784Lowest |
4,278Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
34±4.4Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Jerusalem and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
21.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,938±$17kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$86,780±$11k 7% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Jerusalem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,700±$150k 20% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$320,900±$59kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Jerusalem and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,031±$304 27% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$870±$116Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Benson and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,967Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$4,523Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±43.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jerusalem and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Jerusalem 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.

