Compare towns
Benson vs Pittsfield vs Reading 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 affordable homes ($242k median).
Pittsfield has the most people working from home (28.1%).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Putnam has the most homeowners (95.9%).
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 | Pittsfield | Reading | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Highest |
391Lowest |
699 |
540 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
53.8±3.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Lowest 31% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
| Pittsfield 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% |
13.6%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Reading 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 |
$65,852±$12kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$313,300±$73k 6% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
| Reading and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$1,035±$140Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Benson and Reading 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. |
$5,181 66% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
35.6%±43 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.1%±24.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pittsfield and Reading 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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.