Compare towns
Benson vs Dummerston vs Wheelock 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).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
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 | Wheelock | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
2,090Highest |
717 |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
51±5.6 31% 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% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Wheelock 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%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Wheelock 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% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%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%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Wheelock 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. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above 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±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
— | — |
| 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. |
$2,937Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Dummerston 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Wheelock 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 |
| 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.