CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

37.45° N · 77.44° W · GEOID 5106728

Bensley

Chesterfield County, Virginia · part of the Richmond, VA metro

VirginiaBensley, VABensleyBensley

The short answer

Bensley is home to 5,949 people. Median household income is $50,547 a year and median rent is $1,238 a month, 29.4% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is moderate. The median home is valued at $218,500, about 4.3x annual median household income.

What sets Bensley apart is how tight household budgets are. After the median rent, with other prices set to the US average, the median household keeps about $36,600 a year, less than in 93% of places its size. Also notable: Housing became less affordable between 2019 and 2024: rent went from 26.5% to 29.4% of income.

5OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Weak

Bensley scores better than 5% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 189th of 190 in Virginia.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%21
Economy 20%17
Safety 20%n/a
Amenities 15%39
Education 10%15
Commute 10%50
Growth 5%n/a

Not rated: safety, growth, for want of data (the city police department does not report a full year to the FBI). The other weights are spread over the categories rated.

Median gross rent
$1,238
9% below the median place
Median household income
$50,547
37% below the median place
Median home value
$218,500
32% below the median place
Unemployment
6.5%
33% above the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Bensley

  • AffordabilityThe median rent takes 29.4% of the median household's income, a bigger share than in 94% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track.
  • Housing39% of homes are owner-occupied, fewer than in 97% of the 2,476 places under 10,000 people we track.
01

Moving to Bensley

Chesterfield County gains about 5.9 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in21,702
Moved out19,789
Net+1,913

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Richmond city, VA4,3583,381+977
Henrico County, VA3,3542,297+1,057
Powhatan County, VA370718−348
Hanover County, VA350538−188
Prince George County, VA383452−69

Within Virginia, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within VirginiaOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$75K
Leavers$69K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Chesterfield County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
13.2% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 2.1% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Chesterfield County report $74,800 a year in income on average; those leaving, $69,400, so newcomers earn more than leavers.
Income you would need
$49,500 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,238 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $1,275 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $218,500.
Getting to work
25 minutes each way on average; 7.9% work from home; 2.3% take transit.
If it is close but not quite
De Queen, AR matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved here in the past year1
13.2%
129% above the median place
Net movers per 1,000 people6
5.9
above the median place (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in6
$74,845
6% above the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureBensleyAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year113.2%129% above
Moved from another state1County figure2.1%4% above
Net movers per 1,000 people6County figure5.9above (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in6County figure$74,8456% above
Income of households moving out6County figure$69,4181% below
02

What it costs to live here

Owning with a mortgage costs only about $37 a month more than the median rent, a smaller gap than in 92% of the 2,469 places under 10,000 people we track.

Bensley29.4%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$49,520
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
29.4%
44% above the median place
Home price to income
4.3x
14% above the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
29%
just under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$37,000
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Bensley, $1,238 a month, and local prices for everything else (97.6 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Bensley, but easier on the budget

Places that match Bensley on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
De Queen, AR8717.3% vs 29.4%n/aCompare
Fullerton, PA8524.7% vs 29.4%$16,200Compare
Tallulah, LA8423.3% vs 29.4%n/aCompare
Chicago Ridge, IL8422.7% vs 29.4%$15,800Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Bensley.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Bensley? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Homeownership1
38.6%
42% below the median place
Owner costs with a mortgage1
$1,275
32% below the median place
Renters paying 30%+1
60.4%
19% above the median place
All 15 cost and housing measures
MeasureBensleyAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,2389% below
Rent to income129.4%44% above
Property tax rate10.8%10% below
Home price to income14.3x14% above
Prices vs US average2Metro figure97.93% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,6512% above
Property tax paid (median)1$1,79245% below
Median home value1$218,50032% below
Home prices, 1-year change4County figure2.8%13% below
Home prices, 5-year change4County figure57.0%11% above
Homeownership138.6%42% below
Renters paying 30%+160.4%19% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$1,27532% below
Vacant homes16.8%3% below
Median year built119681% below
03

Work and pay

Income per person is $25,902, 35% below the median place.

Income per person1
$25,902
35% below the median place
Median household income1
$50,547
37% below the median place
Poverty rate1
22.0%
104% above the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Works from home7.9% −36%
Unemployment6.5% +33%
Commutes by transit2.3% 2.7×
Mean commute25 min +0%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureBensleyAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$50,54737% below
Income per person1$25,90235% below
Unemployment16.5%33% above
Average annual pay5County figure$63,0574% below
Pay growth, 1 year5County figure0.6%84% below
Jobs5County figure148,6841% below
Poverty rate122.0%104% above
Mean commute125 min0% above
Works from home17.9%36% below
Commutes by transit12.3%173% above
04

Who lives here

The median resident is 28.6 years old, younger than in 96% of the 2,479 places under 10,000 people we track.

No health insurance1
29.4%
359% above the median place
Median age1
28.6
27% below the median place
High school or higher1
73.9%
20% below the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Born abroad25.9% 2.9×
Bachelor's or higher17.6% −45%
Homes with broadband86.8% −6%
Household size2.7 +6%
All 8 people measures
MeasureBensleyAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population15,9495975th largest
Median age128.627% below
Bachelor's or higher117.6%45% below
High school or higher173.9%20% below
Household size12.76% above
Born abroad125.9%193% above
No health insurance129.4%359% above
Homes with broadband186.8%6% below
05

Life in Bensley

The nearest National Park Service site is Richmond National Battlefield Park, about 4 miles away.

32 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 2 of them National Historic Landmarks. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents11.8 +16%
Playgrounds per 10k0.0 −100%
Grocery stores per 10k3.4 +58%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k0.0 −100%
Libraries per 10k0.0 −100%
Named paths and bike trails1 km −70%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.3 +67%

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Richmond National Battlefield Park 4 miles
  • Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site 7 miles
  • Petersburg National Battlefield 16 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars15.9 −24%
Shops24.7 −18%
Arts, recreation and fitness3.1 −24%
Doctors' offices and clinics21.0 +4%
Child care centers2.0 −13%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site9
3.9
87% below the median place
Public school students11
64,194
above the median place (median 4,897)
Restaurants and bars per 10k7
15.9
24% below the median place
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureBensleyAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools11County figure75above (median 9)
Public school students11County figure64,194above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher11County figure14.09% below
Restaurants and bars per 10k7County figure15.924% below
Shops per 10k7County figure24.718% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k7County figure3.124% below
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k7County figure21.04% above
Child care centers per 10k7County figure2.013% below
Parks per 10k811.816% above
Playgrounds per 10k80.0below (median 9.4)
Grocery stores per 10k83.458% above
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k80.0below (median 11.2)
Libraries per 10k80.0below (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails80.670% below
Transit stops per sq mi80.367% above
Nearest National Park Service site93.987% below
National Park Service sites within 60 miles97250% above
National Register listings10County figure32146% above
06

Safety, weather and risk

Median air quality index is 39, 9% below the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Bensley. Larger places are fetched first.

Median air quality index14
39
9% below the median place
Good air days14
80.8%
18% above the median place
Wildfire risk13
44.0
28% below the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureBensleyAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high12County figure89°F3% above
January average low12County figure28°F11% above
Average temperature12County figure59°F7% above
Annual precipitation12County figure46.6 in6% above
Natural hazard risk13County figure84.88% below
Hurricane risk13County figure85.821% above
Tornado risk13County figure76.86% below
Wildfire risk13County figure44.028% below
Heat wave risk13County figure86.54% below
Median air quality index14County figure399% below
Good air days14County figure80.8%18% above
08

Bensley in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 30% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 29% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Bensley does better than 21% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 69%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,238/mo (2024)$1,600/mo$1,310 to $1,940/mo+4.3%
Median household income$50,547 (2024)$64,500$54,500 to $76,000+4.1%
Median home value$218,500 (2024)$318,000$230,000 to $437,000+6.4%

The median home would be worth 4.9 years of the median income in 2030, against 4.3 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Bensley

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
La Cresta, CA$1,177$49,605Compare
Hinesville, GA$1,212$60,028Compare
Dinuba, CA$1,209$59,484Compare
University, FL$1,295$37,207Compare
University, FLDinuba, CAHinesville, GALa Cresta, CABensley, VABensleyLa CrestaHinesvilleDinubaUniversityBensleyLa CrestaHinesvilleDinubaUniversity

Places built like Bensley

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Bensley performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Bensley, VA29.4%4.7%/yrn/a
Fair Oaks, GA25.0%10.2%/yrn/aCompare
Parker, SC32.9%3.2%/yrn/aCompare
Baltimore Highlands, MD26.8%1.9%/yrn/aCompare
Cedartown, GA30.9%1.3%/yr3.4%Compare
Combee Settlement, FL33.6%1.9%/yrn/aCompare
Lake Park, FL27.1%2.8%/yr0.6%Compare

Common questions

Is Bensley a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 5 out of 100, better than 5% of the places we rate and 189th of 190 in Virginia. The median rent takes 29.4% of the median household's income, a bigger share than in 94% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track. 39% of homes are owner-occupied, fewer than in 97% of the 2,476 places under 10,000 people we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 6 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Bensley expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 29.4% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $218,500.

What salary do you need to live in Bensley?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $49,520 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Bensley?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are La Cresta, CA, Hinesville, GA, Dinuba, CA and University, FL.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  5. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  6. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  7. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  8. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  9. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  10. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  11. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  12. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  13. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  14. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Bensley with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Bensley itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/bensley-virginia

Citytistics. “Bensley, Virginia.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/bensley-virginia/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.