Compare towns
Benson vs Plainfield vs Putnam vs Waterville
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 the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Putnam has the most homeowners (95.9%).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Plainfield | Putnam | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,314Highest |
540Lowest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Lowest 24% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% 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% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville 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%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Waterville 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. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below 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±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Plainfield 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. |
$1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
— | $1,110±$93Lowest 21% 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. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% 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% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest 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 | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.