Compare towns
Benson vs Ira vs Sheldon 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%).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Sheldon | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
381Lowest |
2,267Highest |
540 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.5%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. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 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. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson 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±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
| Ira and Sheldon 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. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
— |
| Sheldon 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. |
$4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,674 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%±27Lowest 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% |
5.1%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% |
89% 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. |
1984Highest 4 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. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Sheldon 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.