Compare towns
Benson vs Brighton vs Windsor 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%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
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 | Brighton | Windsor | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,167 |
2,060Highest |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
44.6±12.3Lowest 15% 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 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±8.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor and Brighton 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% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Windsor 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% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Brighton 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 |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$51,197±$4k 37% below U.S. |
$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 | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$170,300±$22k 49% 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. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,002±$107 29% below U.S. |
— |
| Benson and Windsor 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. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Benson 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% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Brighton 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 | — | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Brighton School District | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school 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.