Compare towns
Addison vs Benson vs Putnam vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Addison has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Putnam has the most homeowners (95.9%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Addison | Benson | Putnam | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,175Highest |
784 |
540Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6 37% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Lowest 33% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Addison and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
| Addison and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$23kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
| Addison and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$461Highest 43% above U.S. |
$1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
— | $1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
| Addison and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831Highest 87% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.