The Town FilesBenson, Arizona
City in Cochise County · population 5,355 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $148,900
- Household income
- $49,346
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 98°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 50.6
Benson is a city of 5,355 people in Cochise County, Arizona. The median home is worth $148,900, below the typical Arizona town ($248,600). It ranks better for cycling than 93% of Arizona towns, hipper than 83% of Arizona towns, more walkable than 80% of Arizona towns.
How Benson ranks
Percentile among Arizona towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Arizona towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Benson is worth $148,900, below the typical Arizona town ($248,600). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $49,346, which is more affordable than 71% of Arizona towns. Median rent is $783 a month. 59.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Benson | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $148,900 | $248,600 |
| Median rent | $783 | $1,050 |
| Median household income | $49,346 | $60,835 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 4.0× |
| Homeownership | 59.5% | 78.6% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1990 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 17.3% | — |
Who lives in Benson
| People | Benson | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.6 | 42.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.0% | 21.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.2% | 18.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.1% | 13.8% |
| Veterans | 16.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 10.2% |
| Average commute | 31.3 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.3% | 88.0% |
Weather in Benson
July highs average 97.5°F and January lows 27.1°F. About 11.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Arizona town: 0.2 in). Expect about 130 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 93 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benson since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Arizona town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on September 22, 2015 about 8.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 22, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 20, 2003.
Severe weather in Cochise County since 1996
Cochise County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4524: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3442: Covid-19 |
| June 11, 2017 | Fire | FM-5183: Lizard Fire |
| June 12, 2011 | Fire | FM-2919: Monument Fire |
| May 9, 2011 | Fire | FM-2907: Horseshoe Two Fire |
Jobs and pay in Cochise County
Cochise County had 34,954 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,877 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Benson itself the ACS puts it at 8.7%.
Public schools in Benson
6 public schools with 1,367 students, about 17.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benson Primary School | PK-5 | 515 | 19.1 |
| Benson High School | 9-12 | 414 | 15.3 |
| Benson Middle School | 5-8 | 285 | 19.0 |
| Pomerene Elementary School | PK-8 | 115 | 14.4 |
| Benson Digital Learning Center | 9-12 | 38 | 38.0 |
| CTD - Benson High School | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Benson
- Whetstone, AZ13.7 mi · 3,236 people · home $213,900
- Vail, AZ22.6 mi · 13,604 people · home $414,600
- Sierra Vista, AZ24.1 mi · 45,308 people · home $254,200
- Rincon Valley, AZ25.1 mi · 5,612 people · home $547,300
- Corona de Tucson, AZ26.7 mi · 9,240 people · home $382,700
Benson questions
Is Benson, Arizona a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Benson scores better for retirees than 66% of Arizona towns and quieter than 40%. 31.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.6).
How much does a house cost in Benson?
The median owner-occupied home in Benson is valued at $148,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,346, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $783 a month.
What is the weather like in Benson?
July highs average 97.5°F and January lows 27.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 11.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Benson get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on September 22, 2015. The typical Arizona town has had 1.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)