Compare towns
Benson vs Olean vs Putnam vs Shoreham
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%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Putnam has the most homeowners (95.9%).
Shoreham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Olean | Putnam | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,664Highest |
540Lowest |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
51.8±7.2Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Olean 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% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shoreham 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% |
25.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Putnam 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 |
$74,583±$20kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$93,654±$23kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Shoreham 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. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$316,400±$34kHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Shoreham and Putnam 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. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
— | $1,306±$335Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Shoreham 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. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,713Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±48.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean 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% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Shoreham 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 | — | #337 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.