What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).

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	Webster	Benson
People
Population	2,227Highest	784Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S.	51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S.
	Benson and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22%	16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Benson and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S.	$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average	$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average	$1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S.
	Webster and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,021Highest 93% above U.S.	$4,125Lowest 32% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1%	53.4%±35.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Webster and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 16% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Benson and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Merrimack Valley 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.