Compare towns
Benson vs Braintree vs Sheldon 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 renters (19.1% rent).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Braintree | Sheldon | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,026 |
2,267Highest |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Putnam 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% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 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 | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Braintree 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. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
— |
| Sheldon and Benson 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. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Braintree 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% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Benson 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 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.