Very AffordableVery SafeBenson Unified School District (79226)
The Benson Visitor Center, a replica of the Benson railroad station · Richard N Horne / CC BY 4.0Benson-Main Street · Marine 69-71 / CC BY-SA 4.0Benson sunset 2 · Dave Bezaire & Susi Havens-Bezaire / CC BY-SA 2.0Hanks Coffee Shop sign, 4th Street, Benson, Arizona (LOC) · The Library of Congress from Washington, DC, United States / No restrictions
Benson is a small town of 5,318 in Arizona, with a median household income of $49,955
and a 7.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Benson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Benson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Benson city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 88.6
Benson's overall cost of living index is 88.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Benson costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Benson, AZ
National Avg
Median Home Value
$117,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$743
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
65.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$49,955
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Benson's violent crime rate is 178.7 per 100,000 residents
— 53% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
178.7 /100k
Property Crime
1148.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Benson is served primarily by Benson Unified School District (79226).
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.2:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Benson, AZ
National Avg
School District
Benson Unified School District (79226)
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
24.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Benson sees average highs of 64.7°F in January
and 97.5°F in July,
with 11.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.2 inches of snow per year.
Benson's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Benson roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $117,800 and median rent is $743/month.
Benson's violent crime rate is 178.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1148.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Benson are operated by Benson Unified School District (79226).
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.2:1. 24.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Benson, AZ has a population of 5,318, a median household income of $49,955, and an unemployment rate of 7.8%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Benson averages 64.7°F in January and 97.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 11.8 inches
with about 0.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Benson, AZ is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 85602, 85630.
The population of Benson, Arizona is 5,318 with a median age of 50.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Benson: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $117,800, median household income $49,955, crime index 50 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Benson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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