Compare towns
Benson vs Bleecker vs Newcomb 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
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Bleecker has the most affordable homes ($221k median).
Newcomb has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Putnam has the most kids (17.4% 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 | Bleecker | Newcomb | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Highest |
563 |
490Lowest |
540 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Lowest 33% above U.S. |
59.7±2.9Highest 53% above U.S. |
59.1±10.1 52% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
| Bleecker and Newcomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
8.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
9.4%±4.7 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+ | 26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newcomb and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$74,732±$21kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$108,750±$25kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
| Newcomb and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$221,100±$61kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$254,800±$47k 23% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Newcomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$950±$286Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Benson and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,893 25% above U.S. |
$1,488Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.1%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school 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.