Compare towns
Barnet vs Benson vs Putnam vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Ryegate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
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 | Barnet | Benson | Putnam | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
784 |
540Lowest |
1,059 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.2±2.6Lowest 6% 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 | 21.6%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ryegate and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15k 17% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24k 25% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 31% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
— | $908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Benson and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Highest 44% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$3,472Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±29.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school 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.