Compare towns
Benson vs Marshfield vs Sheffield 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%).
Marshfield has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
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 | Marshfield | Sheffield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Highest |
470Lowest |
573 |
540 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
42.4±8.8 9% above U.S. |
42±8Lowest 8% 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%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Marshfield 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% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Sheffield 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 |
$84,375±$20k 5% above U.S. |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Marshfield 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. |
$178,300±$31k 46% below U.S. |
$171,900±$50kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson 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. |
$1,125±$79Highest 20% below U.S. |
$967±$79Lowest 32% below U.S. |
— |
| Marshfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,269 5% above U.S. |
$2,123Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±62.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.5%±41.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sheffield 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% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Marshfield 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 | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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.