Belhaven, NC vs Benson, NC

Belhaven is moderately more affordable than Benson, with a 14.6% lower cost of living index. Belhaven scores 67 compared to 79 for Benson, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Benson can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Belhaven is $859/month compared to $978/month in Benson — a 12% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Belhaven is more affordable at $98,200 median vs $176,000.

Median household income in Belhaven is $33,958 compared to $65,614 in Benson (-48.2%). While Benson is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Belhaven spend roughly 30.4% of their income on rent, more than the 17.9% in Benson. The Benson ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.