Compare towns
Benson vs Putnam vs Ware vs Fair Haven
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%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Putnam | Ware | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
540Lowest |
10,048Highest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fair Haven and Ware 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% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Ware 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 |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% 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. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Ware and Putnam 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. |
— | $1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Benson and Ware 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. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,237Highest 36% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Ware 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 | — | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Ware | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.