Compare towns
Benson vs Jay vs Tunbridge 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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Tunbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Jay | Tunbridge | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
471Lowest |
1,253Highest |
540 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
42.7±8.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Tunbridge 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Tunbridge 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 |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$89,464±$26k 11% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$315,300±$23kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
| Tunbridge and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
— | $1,346±$128Highest 5% below U.S. |
— |
| Tunbridge 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. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,645Highest 49% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Tunbridge 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% |
8.7% 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% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Tunbridge 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | First Branch Unified School District #82 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None 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.