What are the schools like in Benson, NC?

Benson is served primarily by Johnston County Public Schools. The district operates 24 elementary schools, 12 middle schools, and 10 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.0:1.

What is the median household income in Benson?

The median household income in Benson, NC is $56,054 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.6%.

What is the weather like in Benson, NC?

Benson has an average high temperature of 54.5°F in January and 91.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 49.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 2.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Benson, NC affordable or expensive?

Benson's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Benson is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $144,600 and the median rent is $918 per month.

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

Benson has a violent crime rate of 748.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2796.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Benson, NC a Good Place to Live?

Benson is a small town of 4,004 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $56,054 and a 2.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Benson stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. 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: 98.0

Benson's overall cost of living index is 98.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Benson costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Benson, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$144,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$918	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	47.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$56,054	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Benson's violent crime rate is 748.6 per 100,000 residents — 97% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

748.6 /100k

Property Crime

2796.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Benson is served primarily by Johnston County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.0:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Benson, NC	National Avg
School District	Johnston County Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	24	—
Middle Schools	12	—
High Schools	10	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	24.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	80.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Benson sees average highs of 54.5°F in January and 91.8°F in July, with 49.4 inches of annual precipitation and 2.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Benson, NC
Average High — January	54.5°F
Average High — July	91.8°F
Annual Precipitation	49.4"
Annual Snowfall	2.1"

Demographics

Metric	Benson, NC	National Avg
Population	4,004	—
Median Age	34.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	43.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	39.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	16.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	28.0%	22.2%
65 and over	25.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Dunn, NC 7 mi Coats, NC 7 mi Four Oaks, NC 8 mi Erwin, NC 9 mi Plain View, NC 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Benson

Benson, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

27504

Benson vs Other Cities

Benson, NC vs Dunn, NC Benson, NC vs Coats, NC Benson, NC vs Four Oaks, NC Benson, NC vs Erwin, NC Benson, NC vs Plain View, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Benson, NC affordable or expensive?

Benson's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Benson roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $144,600 and median rent is $918/month.

What is the crime rate in Benson, NC?

Benson's violent crime rate is 748.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2796.1 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 Johnston County Public Schools. The district has 24 elementary, 12 middle, and 10 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.0:1. 24.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Benson, NC a good place to live?

Benson, NC has a population of 4,004, a median household income of $56,054, and an unemployment rate of 2.6%. 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 54.5°F in January and 91.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.4 inches with about 2.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Benson?

Benson, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 27504.

What is the population of Benson?

The population of Benson, North Carolina is 4,004 with a median age of 34.4. 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 98 (100 = US average), median home $144,600, median household income $56,054, crime index 171 (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.