Population 8,012 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Benson
Household size in Benson
| Period | Benson | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.22 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.23 | 2.84 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.17 | 2.82 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.32 | 2.70 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.11 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Benson is a place of small households, averaging 2.32 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has climbed from 2.22 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the southwest and smallest in the northeast.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Benson
| Period | Benson | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 53.4 | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 51.0 | 38.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 52.3 | 39.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 52.0 | 40.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.4 | +3.5 | +2.3 |
Benson skews older: half of its residents are older than 52.0, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has dropped from 53.4 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Benson
| Period | Benson | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 13.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.2% | 13.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 12.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.9% | 12.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Benson than nationally: 8.9%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged up 0.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Benson
Renters in Benson
| Period | Benson | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.3% | 32.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.8% | 36.6% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.6% | 35.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.5% | 32.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
More than a quarter of households in Benson rent their homes (27.5%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 48.8% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the east; owners are most common in the southwest. The renter share is up 4.2 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Benson
| Period | Benson | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.2% | 15.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.6% | 15.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.9% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.8% | 9.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −5.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Benson: 17.8% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is down 1.4 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Benson
| Period | Benson | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1987 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1986 | 1988 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1987 | 1989 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1989 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +5 | +6 |
Benson has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1989, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1981 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the east.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Benson
| Period | Benson | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $683 | $1,043 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $753 | $1,078 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $757 | $1,227 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $827 | $1,736 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$144 | +$694 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Benson costs $827 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $144 a month from 2006–10, a 21% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 33.9% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the southwest; the most affordable are in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Benson
Bachelor's degrees in Benson
| Period | Benson | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.1% | 26.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.0% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.0% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.7% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.6 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over a quarter of adults 25 and older in Benson (26.7%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 8.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the northeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Benson
| Period | Benson | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.2% | 84.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.7% | 85.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.6% | 86.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.3% | 89.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Benson is the same as the national rate: 89.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent. The share with a diploma has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national rate rose.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Benson
| Period | Benson | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 7.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.6% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.5% | 6.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in Benson: 6.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 3.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Benson compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benson | 2.32 | 52.0 | 8.9% | 27.5% | 17.8% | 1989 | $827 | 26.7% | 89.3% | 6.3% |
| Pomerene | 2.36 | 52.5 | 6.8% | 17.2% | 19.1% | 1994 | $868 | 25.3% | 92.1% | 8.8% |
| Pimaco Two | 2.60 | 49.5 | 6.0% | 12.2% | 6.7% | 1992 | $1,027 | 31.6% | 89.2% | 4.2% |
| St. David | 2.47 | 48.6 | 3.7% | 8.6% | 36.9% | 1994 | $840 | 26.3% | 97.2% | 0.7% |
| Dragoon | 2.29 | 63.2 | 1.4% | 3.4% | 16.6% | 1998 | $939 | 40.3% | 96.6% | 3.9% |
| Vail | 3.02 | 42.0 | 7.3% | 6.8% | 5.8% | 2006 | $1,944 | 41.3% | 96.4% | 2.1% |
| Corona de Tucson | 3.11 | 36.3 | 5.2% | 4.4% | 5.6% | 2007 | $1,873 | 43.8% | 96.8% | 4.6% |
| Cochise | 1.99 | 58.0 | 1.5% | 16.0% | 23.9% | 1991 | $1,002 | 33.4% | 95.7% | 1.5% |
| Pearce | 1.87 | 59.6 | 7.0% | 14.0% | 22.0% | 1983 | $1,024 | 31.8% | 94.5% | 4.8% |
| Kansas Settlement | 2.05 | 52.2 | 4.0% | 23.9% | 15.8% | 1986 | $983 | 38.0% | 91.3% | 4.1% |
| Sahuarita | 3.11 | 39.5 | 7.0% | 15.0% | 9.6% | 2006 | $1,746 | 39.8% | 93.9% | 5.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Halifax, PA · Oliver Springs, TN · Oakdale, CT · Notre Dame, IN · North Branford, CT · Newport, WA · Hartland, MI · Hartford City, IN · Harold, FL · Hampton, NJ
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Benson. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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