Compare towns
Benson vs Putnam vs Windham
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).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
540Lowest |
19,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% 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% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Windham 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±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
— | $1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Windham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Windham 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% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Benson 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 | — | — | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.