Compare towns
Benson vs Ira vs Middlesex 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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Ira | Middlesex | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
381Lowest |
1,943Highest |
540 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
54.7%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% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% 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. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
— |
| Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Ira 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% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest 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% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer 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. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.