Compare towns
Benson vs Braintree vs Springfield 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
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Springfield has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
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 | Benson | Braintree | Springfield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,026 |
9,084Highest |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% 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. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% 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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
23.3%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% |
2.3%±1.4 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 |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$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±$28k 35% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% 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 | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
— |
| Benson and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 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% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 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 |
27 min 3% above 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% |
15.1%±5.5 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.