Compare towns
Benson vs Proctor 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%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($206k median).
Putnam has the most homeowners (95.9%).
Shoreham has the most expensive homes ($316k median).
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 | Proctor | Putnam | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,586Highest |
540Lowest |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest 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. |
47.3±8.9Lowest 22% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.8±7.2 33% 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% |
17.2%±5 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% |
23.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
28%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% |
3.9%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Proctor 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 |
$75,060±$12kLowest 7% 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. |
$206,000±$20kLowest 38% 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. |
$1,059±$200Lowest 25% 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. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,713Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.4%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±48.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Proctor 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% |
10%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 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. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest 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 | ||||
| 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.