CensusEasy
CITY

Benson

Minnesota · 3,444 residents (2025 est.) · 3.177 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Benson has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $52,821. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $156,000. Households here earn about 41% less than the Minnesota median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.7
US median: 38.9
Average education
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 34%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
3,441
+2%since 2000
from 3,376 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,083 / sq mi
+2%since 2000
from 1,063 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.7
−5%since 2000
from 41.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:3,444 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
3K3K3K3K4K1990201020202024Benson
20243K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$52,821
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,234 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,511
+88%since 2000
from $17,269 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
31.2%
+13.6 ptssince 2009
from 17.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.8%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 8.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.443
+10%since 2010
from 0.404 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade19.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance8.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical8.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Information5.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction3.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade3.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services1.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration0.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$156,000
+34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $63,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$982
+54%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $349 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
61.8%
−8.8 ptssince 2000
from 70.6% in 2000
38.2% rent
Vacancy rate
10.5%
+6.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
23.2%
+7.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
51.4%
+5.7 ptssince 2009
from 45.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.0
+49%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
59
RELATED:See current rent listings in Benson on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.6%(3,294)
Black0.2%(8)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(40)
Asian0.2%(8)
Other0%
Diversity Score4.1%(139)
2024
White, non-Hispanic87.3%(3,005)
Black0.3%(9)
Hispanic / Latino9.4%(322)
Asian0%(0)
Other3.1%(105)
Diversity Score28.5%(979)
Diversity Score
28
+590%since 2000
from 4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
31.4%
+11.0 ptssince 2000
from 20.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.7%
+14.1 ptssince 2000
from 78.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.0%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 3.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.5 min
+48%since 2000
from 11.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
83.2%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 81.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
2.6%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
2.2%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
9.1%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.5%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2011
from 2.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.4%
−6.5 ptssince 2011
from 64.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
19.4%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
39.4%
−14.5 ptssince 2009
from 54.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.9%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Female
50.1%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Foreign born
1.6%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.3%
−45.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
24.0%
+8.5 ptssince 2012
from 15.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.5%
−87.8 ptssince 2013
from 92.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.7%
+21.4 ptssince 2017
from 66.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.0%
+2.7 ptssince 2016
from 95.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.7%
−1.6 ptssince 2016
from 3.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Benson

Bushnell
Pop 3,157
Crystal River
Pop 3,618
Jasper
Pop 3,444
High Point
Pop 3,548
Places similar to Benson
Head to head

Compare Benson to nearby cities

BENSON VS
Willmar
Income$62,280+18%
Home value$198,400+27%
Population22,001+539%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BENSON VS
Alexandria
Income$61,374+16%
Home value$275,300+76%
Population15,045+337%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BENSON VS
Marshall
Income$68,566+30%
Home value$210,300+35%
Population14,171+311%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BENSON VS
Hutchinson
Income$72,836+38%
Home value$229,600+47%
Population14,655+326%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Benson, Minnesota?

Benson, Minnesota has about 3,441 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Benson, Minnesota?

The typical household in Benson, Minnesota earns about $52,821 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Benson, Minnesota expensive?

In Benson, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $156,000, and the typical rent is about $982 a month.

How educated are people in Benson, Minnesota?

About 31.4% of adults age 25 and over in Benson, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Benson, Minnesota?

About 9.8% of people in Benson, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Benson, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Benson, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 206 residents, a change of about 6 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Minnesota
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Benson with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →