At a Glance
Median Income
$74,886
$39,257 per capita
Home Value
$118,200
Zillow: $167,528
Median Rent
$975/mo
23.1% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
13.0%
96.0% high school+
Unemployment
2.8%
2.8% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
38.5%
14.9% smoking rate
How Benson Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Benson's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Benson a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.8 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Benson residents earn a median household income of $74,886 , which is 0% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $39,257. The unemployment rate stands at 2.8% (22% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 2.8% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 803 business establishments, including 56 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Benson is $118,200 , 58% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $167,528. Median rent is $975/month, with 23.1% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 100.0 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1953.
Education
13.0% of adults in Benson hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(61% below the national average).
96.0% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.6/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Benson has an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C).
Winters average 24°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 38.2 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population482
Median Age45.5 yrs
Density3,013/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born0.6%
Veterans12.6%
Economy
A
Median Income$74,886
Per Capita$39,257
Unemployment2.8%
Poverty2.8%
County GDP$1,783M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,058
Housing
A+
Home Value$118,200
Rent$975
Ownership96.1%
Zillow$167,528
Housing Units186
Rent Burden23.1%
Health
Obesity38.5%
Diabetes9.1%
Smoking14.9%
Heart Disease5.2%
Premature Death5,803/100K
Climate
Avg Temp51°F
Rain38.2 in/yr
Elevation764 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+13.0%
High School+96.0%
Graduate+2.7%
School Score6.6/10
Community
2024 VoteR 70% / D 28%
Commute25 min
Broadband89.7%
Internet Speed75 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries9
Did You Know?
The median home in Benson was built in 1953.
The nearest airport is Central Il Regional/Bloomington-Normal (28 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.427 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
8.5% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 6 fatal vehicle crashes.