At a Glance
Median Income
$51,349
$28,940 per capita
Home Value
$85,100
Zillow: $118,719
Median Rent
$776/mo
31.7% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
18.5%
85.5% high school+
Unemployment
2.5%
15.8% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
41.7%
18.8% smoking rate
How Benton Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Benton's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Benton a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.6 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Benton residents earn a median household income of $51,349 , which is 32% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $28,940. The unemployment rate stands at 2.5% (31% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 15.8% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 858 business establishments, including 86 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Benton is $85,100 , 70% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $118,719. Median rent is $776/month, with 31.7% 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 1959.
Education
18.5% of adults in Benton hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(45% below the national average).
85.5% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.7/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Benton has an average annual temperature of 56°F (13°C).
Winters average 33°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 46.0 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population7,076
Median Age42.2 yrs
Density1,289/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born2.0%
Veterans8.4%
Economy
B
Median Income$51,349
Per Capita$28,940
Unemployment2.5%
Poverty15.8%
County GDP$2,434M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,112
Housing
A+
Home Value$85,100
Rent$776
Ownership62.9%
Zillow$118,719
Housing Units3,434
Rent Burden31.7%
Health
Obesity41.7%
Diabetes11.3%
Smoking18.8%
Heart Disease6.4%
Premature Death10,089/100K
Climate
Avg Temp56°F
Rain46.0 in/yr
Elevation446 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+18.5%
High School+85.5%
Graduate+5.7%
School Score4.7/10
Community
2024 VoteR 73% / D 25%
Commute23 min
Broadband87.8%
Internet Speed73 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries1
Did You Know?
The median home in Benton was built in 1959.
The nearest airport is Barkley Regional (66 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.434 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
22.2% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 5 fatal vehicle crashes.