The Town FilesBenson, North Carolina
Town in Johnston County · population 3,967 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $279,800
- Household income
- $67,102
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 35.6
Benson is a town of 3,967 people in Johnston County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $279,800, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better transit than 92% of North Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 77% of North Carolina towns.
How Benson ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Benson is worth $279,800, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $67,102, which is more affordable than 36% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,097 a month. 54.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Benson | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $279,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,097 | $969 |
| Median household income | $67,102 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 54.6% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Benson
| People | Benson | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.6 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.5% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.4% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.8% | — |
| Work from home | 19.4% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 29.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Benson
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 31.8°F. About 50.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.9 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 49 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 67 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benson since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 23, 1992 about 6.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 109 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 4, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 5, 1997.
Severe weather in Johnston County since 1996
Johnston County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Johnston County
Johnston County had 61,005 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,305 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Benson itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Benson
5 public schools with 4,086 students, about 16.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Johnston High | 9-12 | 1,593 | 19.9 |
| McGee's Crossroads Middle | 6-8 | 736 | 18.0 |
| Meadow School | PK-8 | 661 | 14.1 |
| Benson Elementary | PK-4 | 603 | 12.6 |
| Benson Middle | 5-8 | 493 | 15.4 |
Towns near Benson
- Dunn, NC6.6 mi · 8,446 people · home $193,900
- Erwin, NC8.7 mi · 4,542 people · home $161,100
- Buies Creek, NC11.5 mi · 3,253 people · home $361,500
- Angier, NC14.1 mi · 5,265 people · home $268,200
- Smithfield, NC14.2 mi · 11,292 people · home $242,500
- Lillington, NC15.4 mi · 4,735 people · home $247,200
- Wilson's Mills, NC17.0 mi · 2,534 people · home $241,800
- Selma, NC17.5 mi · 6,317 people · home $171,600
Benson questions
Is Benson, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Benson scores better for retirees than 31% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 21%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.6).
How much does a house cost in Benson?
The median owner-occupied home in Benson is valued at $279,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,102, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,097 a month.
What is the weather like in Benson?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 31.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.1 inches of precipitation a year and 1.9 inches of snow.
Does Benson get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 23, 1992. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)