Compare towns
Barnard vs Benson vs Putnam vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Barnard | Benson | Putnam | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
784 |
540Lowest |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above 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 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
$1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
— | $1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 94% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.