Compare towns
Benson vs Jericho vs Putnam vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jericho has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% 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 | Jericho | Putnam | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
5,114Highest |
540Lowest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
49.7±5.1 28% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Jericho 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% |
20.2%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
$116,923±$16kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Jericho 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±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$493,100±$38kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,731±$111Highest 23% above U.S. |
— | $1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$7,318Highest 135% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
79.3%±52.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jericho 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% |
0.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jericho and Benson 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 | — | #6 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— | — |
| 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.