Compare towns
Benson vs Exeter vs Mendon 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).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Exeter | Mendon | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
913 |
1,113Highest |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Lowest 33% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Mendon 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% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Putnam 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% |
26.9%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Mendon 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 |
$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
| Mendon 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. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Putnam 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. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
— |
| Mendon 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. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon 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 | — | — | 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.