Compare towns
Benson vs Brookline vs Windham 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 affordable homes ($242k median).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Brookline | Windham | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Highest |
531Lowest |
594 |
540 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% 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% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Windham 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% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
| Windham 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±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Brookline 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% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Windham 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.