Compare towns
Benson vs Jericho vs Walden 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).
Jericho has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Jericho | Walden | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
5,114Highest |
1,037 |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
49.7±5.1 28% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Lowest 25% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Jericho 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% |
20.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$116,923±$16kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above 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. |
$238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,731±$111Highest 23% above U.S. |
$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$7,318Highest 135% above U.S. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% 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% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jericho and Walden 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jericho and Walden 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 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.