Compare towns
Benson vs Gray vs Ira 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%).
Gray has the most expensive homes ($364k median).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Gray | Ira | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
8,429Highest |
381Lowest |
540 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
| Ira and Putnam 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% |
19%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Gray and Putnam 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% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Gray 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 |
$95,236±$8kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
| Gray 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. |
$363,700±$20kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Gray 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. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
$4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray 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% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 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 8% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Gray 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 | — | #10 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— | — |
| 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.