Compare towns
Arkwright vs Benson vs Putnam vs Pomfret
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arkwright has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Putnam has the most expensive homes ($266k median).
Pomfret has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
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 | Arkwright | Benson | Putnam | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 859 |
784 |
540Lowest |
12,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
37.5±4Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
22.5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,000±$26kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$57,746±$10kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Arkwright and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,900±$30kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$185,400±$19k 44% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$689 38% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
— | $866±$43Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Benson and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,760 21% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,459Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±65.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.1%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #211 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | FREDONIA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | FREDONIA HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 1 photos → |
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.