diff --git a/Benchmarks/Benchmarks/ECSBenchmark/Base.swift b/Benchmarks/Benchmarks/ECSBenchmark/Base.swift
index 698ada21..8da3c683 100644
--- a/Benchmarks/Benchmarks/ECSBenchmark/Base.swift
+++ b/Benchmarks/Benchmarks/ECSBenchmark/Base.swift
@@ -7,16 +7,16 @@
 
 import FirebladeECS
 
-class EmptyComponent: Component {}
+final class EmptyComponent: Component, @unchecked Sendable {}
 
-class Name: Component {
+final class Name: Component, @unchecked Sendable {
     var name: String
     init(name: String) {
         self.name = name
     }
 }
 
-class Position: Component {
+final class Position: Component, @unchecked Sendable {
     var x: Int
     var y: Int
     init(x: Int, y: Int) {
@@ -25,21 +25,21 @@ class Position: Component {
     }
 }
 
-class Velocity: Component {
+final class Velocity: Component, @unchecked Sendable {
     var a: Float
     init(a: Float) {
         self.a = a
     }
 }
 
-class Party: Component {
+final class Party: Component, @unchecked Sendable {
     var partying: Bool
     init(partying: Bool) {
         self.partying = partying
     }
 }
 
-class Color: Component {
+final class Color: Component, @unchecked Sendable {
     var r: UInt8 = 0
     var g: UInt8 = 0
     var b: UInt8 = 0
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ class ExampleSystem {
     }
 }
 
-final class SingleGameState: SingleComponent {
+final class SingleGameState: SingleComponent, @unchecked Sendable {
     var shouldQuit: Bool = false
     var playerHealth: Int = 67
 }
diff --git a/Benchmarks/Benchmarks/ECSBenchmark/OneDimensionBenchmarks.swift b/Benchmarks/Benchmarks/ECSBenchmark/OneDimensionBenchmarks.swift
index 01618afa..db344762 100644
--- a/Benchmarks/Benchmarks/ECSBenchmark/OneDimensionBenchmarks.swift
+++ b/Benchmarks/Benchmarks/ECSBenchmark/OneDimensionBenchmarks.swift
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import FirebladeECS
 
 // derived from FirebladeECSPerformanceTests/TypedFamilyPerformanceTests.swift in the parent project
 
-let benchmarks = {
+let benchmarks: @Sendable () -> Void = {
     Benchmark("TraitMatching") { benchmark in
         let nexus = setUpNexus()
         let a = nexus.createEntity()
@@ -195,4 +195,47 @@ let benchmarks = {
             )
         }
     }
+
+    // One sample per run: the family must be new, so each run sets up its own nexus outside the measurement.
+    Benchmark("FamilyCreation", configuration: .init(scalingFactor: .one)) { benchmark in
+        let nexus = setUpNexus()
+        benchmark.startMeasurement()
+        blackHole(nexus.family(requiresAll: Position.self, Velocity.self, excludesAll: Party.self))
+        benchmark.stopMeasurement()
+    }
+
+    Benchmark("EntitiesIteration") { benchmark in
+        let nexus = setUpNexus()
+        for _ in benchmark.scaledIterations {
+            blackHole(
+                nexus
+                    .makeEntitiesIterator()
+                    .forEach { (entity: Entity) in
+                        _ = entity
+                    }
+            )
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Membership churn on an existing family: components leave and rejoin, entities are created and destroyed.
+    Benchmark("FamilyChurn") { benchmark in
+        let nexus = setUpNexus()
+        let family = nexus.family(requiresAll: Position.self, Velocity.self, excludesAll: Party.self)
+        let entities = Array(family.entities.prefix(1000))
+        for _ in benchmark.scaledIterations {
+            for entity in entities {
+                entity.remove(Velocity.self)
+            }
+            for entity in entities {
+                entity.set(Velocity(a: 3.14))
+            }
+            let spawned = (0 ..< 1000).map { index in
+                nexus.createEntity(with: Position(x: index, y: index), Velocity(a: 1))
+            }
+            for entity in spawned {
+                nexus.destroy(entity: entity)
+            }
+            blackHole(family.count)
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/Benchmarks/Package.resolved b/Benchmarks/Package.resolved
index c3a42119..ba448fba 100644
--- a/Benchmarks/Package.resolved
+++ b/Benchmarks/Package.resolved
@@ -1,5 +1,15 @@
 {
+  "originHash" : "8882d2354f8aa2a8ea99923bbc886afd520b4fb284e26d07954970392ab8ad28",
   "pins" : [
+    {
+      "identity" : "benchmark",
+      "kind" : "remoteSourceControl",
+      "location" : "https://github.com/ordo-one/benchmark",
+      "state" : {
+        "revision" : "def9afdba446b03efbbbcecb3b892e97e8294214",
+        "version" : "1.38.0"
+      }
+    },
     {
       "identity" : "hdrhistogram-swift",
       "kind" : "remoteSourceControl",
@@ -14,17 +24,8 @@
       "kind" : "remoteSourceControl",
       "location" : "https://github.com/ordo-one/malloc-interposer.git",
       "state" : {
-        "revision" : "9221411ac2e845a93ce65b9ca2ab84f8c1084b0d",
-        "version" : "1.4.0"
-      }
-    },
-    {
-      "identity" : "package-benchmark",
-      "kind" : "remoteSourceControl",
-      "location" : "https://github.com/ordo-one/package-benchmark",
-      "state" : {
-        "revision" : "1d1b7a56ade88f69c0cef1fa423b320059315f1a",
-        "version" : "1.37.0"
+        "revision" : "f479398f73b14dbd1d25f4e01fd667171ddc9f18",
+        "version" : "1.6.0"
       }
     },
     {
@@ -54,6 +55,15 @@
         "version" : "1.1.1"
       }
     },
+    {
+      "identity" : "swift-syntax",
+      "kind" : "remoteSourceControl",
+      "location" : "https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-syntax.git",
+      "state" : {
+        "revision" : "050f1a346fbbac0ca2cfb15a95274f7bd1cf0ccf",
+        "version" : "604.0.0"
+      }
+    },
     {
       "identity" : "swift-system",
       "kind" : "remoteSourceControl",
@@ -73,5 +83,5 @@
       }
     }
   ],
-  "version" : 2
+  "version" : 3
 }
diff --git a/Benchmarks/Package.swift b/Benchmarks/Package.swift
index 0bfe7cda..683cdbd0 100644
--- a/Benchmarks/Package.swift
+++ b/Benchmarks/Package.swift
@@ -1,27 +1,33 @@
-// swift-tools-version: 5.8
+// swift-tools-version: 6.3
+// Runtime benchmarks for FirebladeECS, kept in a separate package so that the
+// benchmark dependency never becomes part of FirebladeECS's dependency graph.
+//
+// Run from this directory:
+//   swift package benchmark
 
 import PackageDescription
 
 let package = Package(
     name: "ECSBenchmarks",
     platforms: [
-        .iOS(.v16),
-        .macOS(.v13)
+        .iOS(.v17),
+        .macOS(.v14)
     ],
     dependencies: [
-        .package(path: "../"),
-        .package(url: "https://github.com/ordo-one/package-benchmark", .upToNextMajor(from: "1.37.0"))
+        // The package identity of a path dependency is its directory name, i.e. the repository name.
+        .package(path: ".."),
+        .package(url: "https://github.com/ordo-one/benchmark", .upToNextMajor(from: "1.38.0"))
     ],
     targets: [
         .executableTarget(
             name: "ECSBenchmark",
             dependencies: [
                 .product(name: "FirebladeECS", package: "ecs"),
-                .product(name: "Benchmark", package: "package-benchmark")
+                .product(name: "Benchmark", package: "benchmark")
             ],
             path: "Benchmarks/ECSBenchmark",
             plugins: [
-                .plugin(name: "BenchmarkPlugin", package: "package-benchmark")
+                .plugin(name: "BenchmarkPlugin", package: "benchmark")
             ]
         )
     ]
diff --git a/Benchmarks/README.md b/Benchmarks/README.md
index 0d525f65..1dd028f0 100644
--- a/Benchmarks/README.md
+++ b/Benchmarks/README.md
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
 # Benchmarks for FirebladeECS
 
-Originally seeded by replicating performance tests into a new form leveraging [package-benchmark](https://swiftpackageindex.com/ordo-one/package-benchmark/) [Documentation](https://swiftpackageindex.com/ordo-one/package-benchmark/main/documentation/benchmark).
+Originally seeded by replicating performance tests into a new form leveraging [benchmark](https://github.com/ordo-one/benchmark) [Documentation](https://swiftpackageindex.com/ordo-one/package-benchmark/main/documentation/benchmark).
 
-To run all the available benchmarks:
+To run all the available benchmarks from the repository root:
+
+    make benchmark
+
+or from this directory:
 
     swift package benchmark --format markdown
 
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 46449da2..a98334a0 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ DOCS_VERSION_PATH ?= main
 # The full base path for hosting
 HOSTING_BASE_PATH ?= $(REPO_NAME)/$(DOCS_VERSION_PATH)
 
-.PHONY: setup lint lint-fix test test-coverage testReadme build-debug build-release docs docs-preview docs-generate docs-coverage docs-check-coverage docs-check-links preview-analysis-docs generate-docs-githubpages pre-commit clean
+.PHONY: setup lint lint-fix test test-coverage testReadme build-debug build-release docs docs-preview docs-generate docs-coverage docs-check-coverage docs-check-links preview-analysis-docs generate-docs-githubpages pre-commit clean benchmark
 
 # --- Setup ---
 
@@ -118,6 +118,12 @@ generate-docs-githubpages:
 	--transform-for-static-hosting \
 	--hosting-base-path '$(REPO_NAME)'
 
+# --- Benchmarks ---
+
+# Runtime benchmarks live in a separate package (Benchmarks/) so the benchmark dependency stays out of FirebladeECS.
+benchmark:
+	cd Benchmarks && swift package benchmark
+
 # --- Workflows ---
 
 pre-commit: lint-fix test
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c78050cd..d7ee91d8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -304,6 +304,8 @@ Before commiting code please ensure to run:
 
 - `make precommit`
 
+To measure runtime performance run `make benchmark` (see [Benchmarks/README.md](Benchmarks/README.md)).
+
 This project is currently maintained by [Christian Treffs](https://github.com/ctreffs).   
 See also the list of [contributors](https://github.com/fireblade-engine/ecs/contributors) who participated in this project.
 
diff --git a/Sources/FirebladeECS/Nexus+Entity.swift b/Sources/FirebladeECS/Nexus+Entity.swift
index e5bcd392..8b478b8e 100644
--- a/Sources/FirebladeECS/Nexus+Entity.swift
+++ b/Sources/FirebladeECS/Nexus+Entity.swift
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ extension Nexus {
 // MARK: - entities iterator
 
 extension Nexus {
-    /// An iterator over the entities managed by the Nexus.
+    /// An iterator over the entities managed by the Nexus, in a deterministic order.
     public struct EntitiesIterator: IteratorProtocol {
         private var iterator: AnyIterator<Entity>
 
@@ -131,7 +131,8 @@ extension Nexus {
         /// - Parameter nexus: The nexus to iterate over.
         @usableFromInline
         init(nexus: Nexus) {
-            var iter = nexus.componentIdsByEntity.keys.makeIterator()
+            // Sorting makes the order deterministic instead of following the per-process hash seed.
+            var iter = nexus.componentIdsByEntity.keys.sorted { $0.id < $1.id }.makeIterator()
             iterator = AnyIterator {
                 guard let entityId = iter.next() else {
                     return nil
diff --git a/Sources/FirebladeECS/Nexus+Internal.swift b/Sources/FirebladeECS/Nexus+Internal.swift
index b911e5bd..fc1a0a9f 100644
--- a/Sources/FirebladeECS/Nexus+Internal.swift
+++ b/Sources/FirebladeECS/Nexus+Internal.swift
@@ -133,8 +133,8 @@ extension Nexus {
     /// - Parameter traits: The traits defining the family.
     func update(familyMembership traits: FamilyTraitSet) {
         // FIXME: iterating all entities is costly for many entities
-        var iter = componentIdsByEntity.keys.makeIterator()
-        while let entityId = iter.next() {
+        // Sorting makes the member order deterministic instead of following the per-process hash seed.
+        for entityId in componentIdsByEntity.keys.sorted(by: { $0.id < $1.id }) {
             update(membership: traits, for: entityId)
         }
     }
diff --git a/Tests/FirebladeECSTests/NexusDeterministicOrderTests.swift b/Tests/FirebladeECSTests/NexusDeterministicOrderTests.swift
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0d31910d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Tests/FirebladeECSTests/NexusDeterministicOrderTests.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+//
+//  NexusDeterministicOrderTests.swift
+//  FirebladeECSTests
+//
+
+import Testing
+@testable import FirebladeECS
+
+/// Swift seeds `Dictionary` hashing per process, so any order taken from a dictionary changes between runs.
+/// These tests expect identifier order, which a hash-seeded order of 256 entities matches only by chance.
+@Suite struct NexusDeterministicOrderTests {
+    private static let entityCount = 256
+
+    @Test func familyCreatedAfterEntitiesHasDeterministicOrder() {
+        let nexus = Nexus()
+        let expected = (0..<Self.entityCount).map { index in
+            nexus.createEntity(with: Position(x: index, y: index)).identifier
+        }
+
+        let family = nexus.family(requiresAll: Position.self)
+
+        #expect(family.entities.map(\.identifier) == expected)
+    }
+
+    @Test func entitiesHaveDeterministicOrder() {
+        let nexus = Nexus()
+        let expected = (0..<Self.entityCount).map { _ in nexus.createEntity().identifier }
+
+        #expect(nexus.makeEntitiesIterator().map(\.identifier) == expected)
+    }
+}