Compare towns
Benson vs Ira 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).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($357k median).
Putnam has the most kids (17.4% 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 | Ira | Mendon | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
381Lowest |
1,113Highest |
540 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Lowest 33% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5 37% 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Benson 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% |
28.9%±3.3 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% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Ira 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 |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% 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. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% 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. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% 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. |
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. |
28 min 6% 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% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 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.