Compare towns
Barre vs Benson vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Putnam has the most homeowners (95.9%).
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 | Barre | Benson | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,412Highest |
784 |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% 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 | 13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,625±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above 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 | $210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kHighest 20% 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 | $1,093±$58Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
— |
| Benson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,192Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Barre 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.