City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Benson, NC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Benson - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

4,144
Residents
$65,614
Median income
$176,000
Median home
$1,750
Median rent (state)

Benson - the verdict

Nationally, Benson sits in the 44th percentile for household income and the 10th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

44th
percentile, household income
35th
percentile, home value
71st
percentile, median rent
10th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Benson, NC

North Carolina's Benson is a small town, with 4,144 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Benson brings in $65,614 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 26.6%. Home values in Benson run a median of $176,000, and the median resident age is 35.0 years. About 20.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 56.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits), down 100% from five years earlier. Benson's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 3544.7 in FBI UCR data, above the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, North Carolina scores 94.3 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,750 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in North Carolina run around $215, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 85.6 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

4,144 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$65,614 /yr

Poverty 26.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Benson compare to other US cities?

Benson measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 44% higher than other cities
Home value 35% pricier than other cities
Median rent 71% pricier than other cities
Safety 10% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at North Carolina, Benson ranks #141 of 195 North Carolina cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Benson against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to North Carolina only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

North Carolina-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent is Benson's strongest outlier among North Carolina cities

Among the 746 North Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Benson ranks #1 - the 96th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Benson only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#271 of 700
61st percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 746
96th percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#409 of 708
42nd percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#81 of 746
89th percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#396 of 746
47th percentile in North Carolina

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within North Carolina only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

44thIncome percentile
10thSafety percentile

44th percentile nationally for median household income · 10th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Benson's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Benson's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 34 Avg. percentile National median
Benson's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Benson's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$176,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 65% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Benson $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Benson, NC Benson, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Benson, NC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Benson, NC median $65,614/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Benson, NC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Benson, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 26.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
4,144
Median Income
$65,614
Median Home Value
$176,000
Median Age
35.0
Poverty Rate
26.6%
Labor force participation
56.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3544.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
748.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2796.1
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
5
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
3,800 residents4,000 residents4,200 residents4,400 residents4,600 residents4,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 4,007 residents 4,660 residents ▲ +16.3%
Benson's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 45
2020 65
2021 82
2022 0
2023 0

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2019 to 2023.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
74.4%
Carpool
6.6%
Public Transit
3.3%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
15.7%

Based on 1,709 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for North Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect North Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a North Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Benson sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,750/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
85.6 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Southport
4,143 people
Surf City
4,160 people
Wingate
4,169 people
Forest Oaks
4,095 people
Trent Woods
4,086 people
Mount Olive
4,204 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Benson's 4,144 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Lansford, PA
4,144 people
Rosemont, IL
4,145 people
Dimmitt, TX
4,143 people
Coal Valley, IL
4,142 people
Newport, SC
4,142 people
Gibson, AR
4,141 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Benson's $65,614 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Coosada, AL
$65,614 median income
Garrett, IN
$65,611 median income
Williamsburg, IA
$65,607 median income
Quemado, NM
$65,605 median income
Albuquerque, NM
$65,604 median income
Highland Lake, AL
$65,625 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Benson, NC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Benson, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 47.6% 35.5% 16.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 23.5% White 47.6% Black or African American 35.5% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.2% Two or more races 16.7% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Benson compares to nearby North Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Benson (this city) 4,144 $65,614
Southport 4,143 $82,792
Surf City 4,160 $84,833
Wingate 4,169 $65,208
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Benson, NC?

What is the population of Benson, NC? +

Benson, NC counts 4,144 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Benson, NC? +

Benson households earn a median of $65,614 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Benson? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Benson; the closest available measure is the North Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 94.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within North Carolina vary by metro area.

Is Benson, NC safe? +

Benson has a total crime rate of 3544.7 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Benson, NC? +

Homes in Benson carry a median value of $176,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.