Compare towns
Benson vs Putnam vs Hope
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most people working from home (9.6%).
Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).
Hope has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
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 | Benson | Putnam | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271Lowest |
540 |
587Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.9% NY: +4.2% |
— |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7 27% above NY |
53.6±6.4Highest 35% above NY |
50.3±8.5Lowest 26% above NY |
| Putnam and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±9.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
17.4%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
19.6%±0.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Hope and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.3%±2.9 NY: 17.9% |
35.6%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
23.7%±10.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Putnam and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
31.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6Lowest NY: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
2.4%±3.1 NY: 7% |
| Putnam and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,375±$13kLowest 19% below NY |
$92,344±$14kHighest 7% above NY |
$72,188±$13k 16% below NY |
| Putnam and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,100±$15k 46% below NY |
$266,200±$48kHighest 37% below NY |
$211,300±$106kLowest 50% below NY |
| Putnam and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,225±$217 24% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528Lowest 62% below NY |
$3,674Highest 44% below NY |
$2,551 61% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
61.9%±98.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Hope and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
7.2% NY: 14% |
17.5%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 20% below NY |
21 minLowest 34% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.6%±5.7 NY: 14.9% |
6.6%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Benson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY 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.