Compare towns
Benson vs Plainfield vs Orwell 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%).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Plainfield | Orwell | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,314Highest |
1,294 |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
47.5±7Lowest 22% 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell 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% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Orwell 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 |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson 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. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
| Orwell and Plainfield 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. |
$1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Plainfield 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. |
$4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Orwell 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Plainfield 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.