Compare towns
Benson vs Dummerston vs Putnam vs Orwell
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).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% 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 | Dummerston | Putnam | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
2,090Highest |
540Lowest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% 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% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Orwell 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 |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Dummerston 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. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Orwell and Dummerston 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. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Benson 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. |
$4,536Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Benson 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.