Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Benson, IL Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

428

Median Agei

43.5

Race & Ethnicityi

White

97.4%417

Black

1.6%7

Hispanic/Latino

0.9%4

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

4.5%14

High School Diploma

36.7%113

Some College (<1 yr)

6.8%21

Some College (1+ yr)

23.1%71

Associate's Degree

12.3%38

Bachelor's Degree

7.5%23

Master's Degree

1.9%6

Doctorate

3.2%10

HS or Higher

96.1%

BA or Higher

12.7%

Graduate+

5.2%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$114,900

Median Renti

$950

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

96.2%177

Renter-Occupied

3.8%7

Total Units

200

Homeownership

96.2%

Vacancy Rate

Home Values

Under $50K

4%7

$50K–$100K

24.9%44

$100K–$150K

44.1%78

$150K–$200K

18.6%33

$200K–$300K

6.2%11

$300K–$500K

1.7%3

$500K–$1M

0.6%1

Rent Distribution

$750–$1,000

$1,000–$1,250

Year Built

2010–2019

1%2

2000–2009

2.5%5

1990–1999

6%12

1980–1989

1.5%3

1970–1979

10%20

1960–1969

22%44

1950–1959

15%30

1940–1949

7%14

1939 or earlier

35%70

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

89.7%165

Electricity

8.2%15

No Fuel

1.1%2

Bottled/LP Gas

0.5%1

Solar

0.5%1

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$76,333

Mean Household Incomei

$91,920

Per Capita Incomei

$41,469

Poverty Ratei

3.5%

Unemploymenti

4.2%

Labor Forcei

264

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

1.1%2

$15K–$20K

1.6%3

$20K–$25K

4.3%8

$25K–$30K

3.3%6

$30K–$35K

1.1%2

$35K–$40K

1.6%3

$40K–$45K

1.1%2

$45K–$50K

7.6%14

$50K–$60K

10.3%19

$60K–$75K

13.6%25

$75K–$100K

20.1%37

$100K–$125K

10.9%20

$125K–$150K

9.8%18

$150K–$200K

9.8%18

$200K+

3.8%7

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers4 homes

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

40.9%

By Region

Top Countries

Philippines

Germany

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

249

Avg. Commutei

24.3 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

253

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

34(9.5% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

96.3%Insured

3.7%Uninsured