In Benton, 88% of adult citizens voted for president in 2024, more than across Wisconsin
Benton’s town government spent $317,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $648 per resident.
What stands out about how Benton is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$648 per resident in 2022: more than 68% of them
Benton’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($648 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 1113 Wisconsin towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $509, and the middle half spent $371–$727. Benton spent more than 68% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($26,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Wisconsin towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Benton itself left out).
About $648 per resident a year, or $1.78 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 53%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Benton reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $3,811 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.33% of the home’s value, vs 1.42% across Wisconsin.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Benton’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.
Tax bills are one input to Benton’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Benton →
Who’s in charge in Benton
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Benton’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on bentonwi.us ↗.
Benton School District
Benton’s K–12 school district, shared with Benton, New Diggings. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $21,940 per pupil, $8,954 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Wisconsin districts overall: 39% local, 50% state, 11% federal.
Cuba City School District · $16,729 per pupil
Southwestern Wisconsin School District · $13,990 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Benton voted in 2024
Official results for Benton’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Donald J TrumpRepublican73.3%228 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat25.4%79 votesOthers: 1.3% (4 votes).
Most votes in Benton: Donald J Trump
Lafayette County: Trump 59.5%, Harris 39.3% · Wisconsin: Trump 49.6%, Harris 48.7%
of Benton’s 355 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Wisconsin: 76%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Benton: Eric Hovde
Lafayette County: Hovde 55.2%, Baldwin 42.9% · Wisconsin: Baldwin 49.3%, Hovde 48.5%
Most votes in the district: Mark Pocan
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Benton, its county and the state
| Trump | Harris | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton | 73.3% | 25.4% | 1.3% | 311 |
| Lafayette County | 59.5% | 39.3% | 1.2% | 8,832 |
| Wisconsin | 49.6% | 48.7% | 1.7% | 3,422,918 |
Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Benton.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: bentonwi.us ↗
- 2Wisconsin AssemblyState representatives
- 3Wisconsin SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Wisconsin
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Benton compares with the towns next door
Benton spent $648 per resident in 2022; the 6 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $298 to $1,105. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Smelser | $298 | $3,447 |
| Hazel Green | $426 | $3,038 |
| New Diggings | $427 | $2,291 |
| Elk Grove | $556 | $3,429 |
| Cuba City | $816 | $3,149 |
| Hazel Green | $1,105 | $2,529 |
| Benton | $648 | $3,811 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Benton’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Benton’s government
How much does Benton spend per resident?
About $648 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $648 was more than 68% of 1113 Wisconsin towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Benton?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,811 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.33% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.42% across Wisconsin. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see bentonwi.us.
Who runs Benton’s government?
See bentonwi.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Benton yet.
How did Benton vote in 2024?
For president, Donald J Trump 73.3%, Kamala D Harris 25.4% (311 votes, official results). Lafayette County: Trump 59.5%, Harris 39.3%. Wisconsin: Trump 49.6%, Harris 48.7%.
How many people work for Benton?
0 full-time and 5 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1,996 (about $23,952 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Benton in the state legislature?
State Senate District 17 (Howard Marklein) and Assembly District 51 (Todd Novak). The Assembly district also covers 66 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Benton’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →