At a Glance
Median Income
$51,124
$32,647 per capita
Home Value
$146,100
Zillow: $188,439
Median Rent
$939/mo
31.5% of income on rent
Violent Crime
204/100K
58/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
29.9%
95.5% high school+
Unemployment
2.9%
4.5% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.8%
18.0% 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
3.3 / 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 $51,124 , which is 32% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $32,647. The unemployment rate stands at 2.9% (19% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 4.5% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 366 business establishments, including 25 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Benson is $146,100 , 48% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $188,439. Median rent is $939/month, with 31.5% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 98.6 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1956.
Safety & Crime
Benson reports 204 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 46% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 58/100K.
Education
29.9% of adults in Benson hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(11% below the national average).
95.5% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.9/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Benson has an average annual temperature of 44°F (6°C).
Winters average 11°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 28.1 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population3,449
Median Age40.9 yrs
Density1,085/mi²
Male / Female50% / 50%
Foreign Born0.6%
Veterans4.0%
Economy
B+
Median Income$51,124
Per Capita$32,647
Unemployment2.9%
Poverty4.5%
County GDP$800M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,075
Housing
A+
Home Value$146,100
Rent$939
Ownership62.9%
Zillow$188,439
Housing Units1,578
Rent Burden31.5%
Crime
F
Violent204/100K
Property58/100K
Health
Obesity39.8%
Diabetes10.4%
Smoking18.0%
Heart Disease6.0%
Premature Death7,978/100K
Climate
Avg Temp44°F
Rain28.1 in/yr
Elevation1,043 ft
Education
B
Bachelor's+29.9%
High School+95.5%
Graduate+3.5%
School Score5.9/10
Community
2024 VoteR 66% / D 32%
Commute20 min
Broadband87.0%
Internet Speed119 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries3
Did You Know?
The median home in Benson was built in 1956.
The nearest airport is Southwest Minnesota Regional Marshall/Ryan Field (61 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.459 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
20.8% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 119 Mbps.
The county recorded 1 fatal vehicle crashes.