BentonCA
A town of 292, settled in 1866.
Is Benton a good place to live?
37% of residents live below the poverty line in Benton, where California’s towns sit at 10% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. Only 3 of the 847 California towns we compare have a lower January low than Benton. Benton’s density of trails is 2.3 miles per square mile, where California’s towns sit at 1.0 and U.S. towns at 0.4. Benton has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
292 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Benton: who provides what
Benton is unincorporated, so Mono County and regional agencies provide most services.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Benton.
The schools Benton’s kids attend
Its one school is below. The Eastern Sierra Unified school district runs its public schools.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edna Beaman ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 12 | – |
NCES · EDFacts
Top of a very high hazard risk in Benton: inland flooding
Federal disaster aid has reached households in Benton once, in 2023. Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 89% of U.S. communities. FEMA puts 37% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 23% to avalanches.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Benton stands out in California and nationally, with fewer of its working residents who work locally
The top destinations are Mammoth Lakes (24%), Bishop (8%) and Bridgeport (6%). In Benton, the mean commuting time is 29 minutes. The median commute is under 49 miles.
| Benton | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 0.8% | 6.6% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Four seasons and hot summers in Benton
July afternoons reach 93° and January nights drop to 21°.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
How healthy Benton is
Among adults in Benton, 34% have obesity. On the CDC’s 32 measures, Benton is ahead of California on 4 and behind on 10. In Benton, 75% of adults had a checkup this year, and 32% feel lonely.
| Benton | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 14% | 14% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 75% | 72% | 79% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 36% | 33% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 22% | 23% |
| What stands out | Benton | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 6% | 10.6% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 11.9% | 14.9% |
| More adults with COPD | 7.7% | 5.1% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Open space protected for good: 7.5% of Benton
Trails total 65 miles in 1 park or preserve. Parks and preserves in Benton: one, of 6 acres.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ida Lynn Parkinson Park | — | 6 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Everything we know about Benton
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Benton; the nearest are
About 1 of every 100 Benton residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
99% of working residents leave Benton for work
Where Benton’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Questions about Benton
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Benton, CA a good place to live?
Benton has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.