What are the schools like in Benson, MN?

Benson is served primarily by BENSON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.3:1.

What is the median household income in Benson?

The median household income in Benson, MN is $50,435 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.5%.

What is the weather like in Benson, MN?

Benson has an average high temperature of 21.2°F in January and 83.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 28.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 42.6 inches.

Benson, MN Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Benson, MN affordable or expensive?

Benson's cost of living index is 94, where 100 represents the national average. This means Benson is 6% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $129,200 and the median rent is $906 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Benson, MN?

Benson has a violent crime rate of 204.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 58.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Benson, MN a Good Place to Live?

Benson is a small town of 3,453 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $50,435 and a 2.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is 6% below the national average.

Strengths: Benson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. 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: 94.0

Benson's overall cost of living index is 94.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Benson costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.

Metric	Benson, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$129,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$906	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	63.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$50,435	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Benson's violent crime rate is 204.4 per 100,000 residents — 46% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

204.4 /100k

Property Crime

58.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Benson is served primarily by BENSON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Benson, MN	National Avg
School District	BENSON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	29.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Benson sees average highs of 21.2°F in January and 83.3°F in July, with 28.1 inches of annual precipitation and 42.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Benson, MN
Average High — January	21.2°F
Average High — July	83.3°F
Annual Precipitation	28.1"
Annual Snowfall	42.6"

Demographics

Metric	Benson, MN	National Avg
Population	3,453	—
Median Age	41.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	23.3%	22.2%
65 and over	23.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Clontarf, MN 6 mi De Graff, MN 8 mi Danvers, MN 8 mi Murdock, MN 12 mi Holloway, MN 15 mi

ZIP Codes in Benson

Benson, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

56215

Benson vs Other Cities

Benson, MN vs Clontarf, MN Benson, MN vs De Graff, MN Benson, MN vs Danvers, MN Benson, MN vs Murdock, MN Benson, MN vs Holloway, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Benson, MN affordable or expensive?

Benson's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average. That makes Benson roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $129,200 and median rent is $906/month.

What is the crime rate in Benson, MN?

Benson's violent crime rate is 204.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 58.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Benson?

Public schools in Benson are operated by BENSON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.3:1. 29.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Benson, MN a good place to live?

Benson, MN has a population of 3,453, a median household income of $50,435, and an unemployment rate of 2.5%. 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.

What is the weather like in Benson?

Benson averages 21.2°F in January and 83.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 28.1 inches with about 42.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Benson?

Benson, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56215.

What is the population of Benson?

The population of Benson, Minnesota is 3,453 with a median age of 41.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Benson?

Key numbers for living in Benson: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $129,200, median household income $50,435, crime index 33 (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.